A Florida handyman, Andrew Paul Johnson, has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting two children, following his previous conviction for participating in the January 6 Capitol riot. Johnson, 45, was pardoned by former President Donald Trump after the insurrection, which has led to a number of individuals being charged with new crimes since receiving clemency.
Johnson’s recent conviction includes two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child and one count of electronically transmitting harmful material to a minor. Hernando County Circuit Judge Stephen Toner imposed the life sentence during a hearing, underscoring the severity of Johnson’s offenses.
The investigation into Johnson began in July 2025 after allegations of child molestation emerged. Reports indicate that one of Johnson’s victims disclosed incidents of abuse that commenced in April 2024, a few months prior to his sentencing related to the Capitol riot. Disturbingly, investigators revealed that Johnson had attempted to manipulate one of the young victims by suggesting he would include them in his will in hopes of maintaining silence about the abuse.
Evidence against Johnson also included sexually explicit messages exchanged via the Discord messaging app, where he encouraged the victim to download another app for more private conversations and requested the deletion of their exchanges afterward.
In August 2024, Johnson was sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty to four misdemeanor charges connected to the Capitol riot. His request to withdraw this guilty plea was denied by Chief U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, who noted that his claims of coercion were unsubstantiated. During the riot, Johnson was observed yelling at police and carrying a bullhorn as he entered the Capitol through a broken window.
This case highlights the distressing behavior of individuals who, despite receiving clemency or leniency for one crime, may engage in egregious acts against vulnerable members of society. The legal system is facing increasing scrutiny as it navigates cases involving defendants previously involved in politically charged events.