Topline: Andrew Paul Johnson used messaging apps to groom victims before molesting them.
Published: March 10, 2026 6:00 am ET
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Inset: Andrew Paul Johnson's mugshot (Photos via Hernando County Sheriff’s Office / realdonaldtrump
on Instagram)
HERNANDO COUNTY, FL- A Florida man pardoned by President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was sentenced to life in prison for child molestation and related crimes.
Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, was sentenced after being convicted in February on five criminal charges: child molestation, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and transmission of material harmful to a minor. The Office of the State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida announced the sentencing in a press release on March 5.
The charges involved two victims between the ages of 12 and 16. The victims’ identities were not released because of their ages.
According to the press release, the investigation began in July 2025. Deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office went to Johnson’s home in Brooksville after the two victims reported that they had been inappropriately touched.
Investigators determined that Johnson used the messaging application Discord to send harmful material to the victims. The state attorney’s office reported that Johnson used the app to encourage the minors to download software for private conversations and instructed them to delete their messages.
Interviews conducted by law enforcement and the You Thrive Child Advocacy Center’s child protective team revealed that Johnson used gifts to maintain silence. The victims told investigators that Johnson bought them food and items in exchange for not reporting the interactions.
According to law enforcement, Johnson told one of the victims he would receive a large sum of money from the government after his pardon and would include the victim in his will to inherit any remaining funds.
Johnson told the victims he would get in trouble if they spoke to anyone, according to the press release. Trial records obtained by NPR indicate one victim testified that they were scared and did not realize the behavior was inappropriate at age 12.
The sentencing comes roughly 14 months after Johnson received a full pardon from President Donald Trump. Johnson was among approximately 1,500 people pardoned by Trump at the start of his second term in January 2025, as reported by NBC News.
Trump referred to the Jan. 6 defendants as “hostages” during an Oval Office appearance in January 2025, according to CNN. The pardons also included commutations for leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys.
Johnson had previously pleaded guilty in 2024 to nonviolent charges related to the 2021 Capitol riot. Prosecutors said he entered the U.S. Capitol through a broken window and was recorded cursing at police officers who were clearing the building.
During the pendency of his federal case, Johnson referred to himself as an “American Terrorist” and a “Proud J6er” on social media accounts, according to NPR. Court records also show he violated previous court orders by posing for photographs with a firearm while his Jan. 6 case was active.
The Jan. 6 investigation was the largest criminal probe in U.S. history, resulting in more than 1,000 convictions during the Biden administration. Most of those convicted were subsequently cleared by the mass pardons issued last year.
Johnson worked as a handyman in the Brooksville area prior to his arrest. He will serve the life sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Andrew Paul Johnson used messaging apps to groom victims before molesting them.
By Kate Byrd
Published: March 10, 2026 6:00 am ET
Inset: Andrew Paul Johnson's mugshot (Photos via Hernando County Sheriff’s Office / realdonaldtrump
on Instagram)
HERNANDO COUNTY, FL- A Florida man pardoned by President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was sentenced to life in prison for child molestation and related crimes.
Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, was sentenced after being convicted in February on five criminal charges: child molestation, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and transmission of material harmful to a minor. The Office of the State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida announced the sentencing in a press release on March 5.
The charges involved two victims between the ages of 12 and 16. The victims’ identities were not released because of their ages.
According to the press release, the investigation began in July 2025. Deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office went to Johnson’s home in Brooksville after the two victims reported that they had been inappropriately touched.
Investigators determined that Johnson used the messaging application Discord to send harmful material to the victims. The state attorney’s office reported that Johnson used the app to encourage the minors to download software for private conversations and instructed them to delete their messages.
Interviews conducted by law enforcement and the You Thrive Child Advocacy Center’s child protective team revealed that Johnson used gifts to maintain silence. The victims told investigators that Johnson bought them food and items in exchange for not reporting the interactions.
According to law enforcement, Johnson told one of the victims he would receive a large sum of money from the government after his pardon and would include the victim in his will to inherit any remaining funds.
Johnson told the victims he would get in trouble if they spoke to anyone, according to the press release. Trial records obtained by NPR indicate one victim testified that they were scared and did not realize the behavior was inappropriate at age 12.
The sentencing comes roughly 14 months after Johnson received a full pardon from President Donald Trump. Johnson was among approximately 1,500 people pardoned by Trump at the start of his second term in January 2025, as reported by NBC News.
Trump referred to the Jan. 6 defendants as “hostages” during an Oval Office appearance in January 2025, according to CNN. The pardons also included commutations for leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys.
Johnson had previously pleaded guilty in 2024 to nonviolent charges related to the 2021 Capitol riot. Prosecutors said he entered the U.S. Capitol through a broken window and was recorded cursing at police officers who were clearing the building.
During the pendency of his federal case, Johnson referred to himself as an “American Terrorist” and a “Proud J6er” on social media accounts, according to NPR. Court records also show he violated previous court orders by posing for photographs with a firearm while his Jan. 6 case was active.
The Jan. 6 investigation was the largest criminal probe in U.S. history, resulting in more than 1,000 convictions during the Biden administration. Most of those convicted were subsequently cleared by the mass pardons issued last year.
Johnson worked as a handyman in the Brooksville area prior to his arrest. He will serve the life sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Trump-Pardoned Rioter Gets Life for Child Sex Crimes
Andrew Paul Johnson used messaging apps to groom victims before molesting them.
By Kate Byrd
Published: March 10, 2026 6:00 am ET
Inset: Andrew Paul Johnson's mugshot (Photos via Hernando County Sheriff’s Office / realdonaldtrump
on Instagram)
HERNANDO COUNTY, FL- A Florida man pardoned by President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was sentenced to life in prison for child molestation and related crimes.
Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, was sentenced after being convicted in February on five criminal charges: child molestation, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and transmission of material harmful to a minor. The Office of the State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida announced the sentencing in a press release on March 5.
The charges involved two victims between the ages of 12 and 16. The victims’ identities were not released because of their ages.
According to the press release, the investigation began in July 2025. Deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office went to Johnson’s home in Brooksville after the two victims reported that they had been inappropriately touched.
Investigators determined that Johnson used the messaging application Discord to send harmful material to the victims. The state attorney’s office reported that Johnson used the app to encourage the minors to download software for private conversations and instructed them to delete their messages.
Interviews conducted by law enforcement and the You Thrive Child Advocacy Center’s child protective team revealed that Johnson used gifts to maintain silence. The victims told investigators that Johnson bought them food and items in exchange for not reporting the interactions.
According to law enforcement, Johnson told one of the victims he would receive a large sum of money from the government after his pardon and would include the victim in his will to inherit any remaining funds.
Johnson told the victims he would get in trouble if they spoke to anyone, according to the press release. Trial records obtained by NPR indicate one victim testified that they were scared and did not realize the behavior was inappropriate at age 12.
The sentencing comes roughly 14 months after Johnson received a full pardon from President Donald Trump. Johnson was among approximately 1,500 people pardoned by Trump at the start of his second term in January 2025, as reported by NBC News.
Trump referred to the Jan. 6 defendants as “hostages” during an Oval Office appearance in January 2025, according to CNN. The pardons also included commutations for leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys.
Johnson had previously pleaded guilty in 2024 to nonviolent charges related to the 2021 Capitol riot. Prosecutors said he entered the U.S. Capitol through a broken window and was recorded cursing at police officers who were clearing the building.
During the pendency of his federal case, Johnson referred to himself as an “American Terrorist” and a “Proud J6er” on social media accounts, according to NPR. Court records also show he violated previous court orders by posing for photographs with a firearm while his Jan. 6 case was active.
The Jan. 6 investigation was the largest criminal probe in U.S. history, resulting in more than 1,000 convictions during the Biden administration. Most of those convicted were subsequently cleared by the mass pardons issued last year.
Johnson worked as a handyman in the Brooksville area prior to his arrest. He will serve the life sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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