A Florida man who once received a pardon for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot has now been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of multiple crimes involving minors.
Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, a handyman from Brooksville, Florida, was sentenced on March 5 after a jury found him guilty of five charges, including molestation, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and transmitting harmful material to a minor, according to the Office of the State Attorney for Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit.
The case began in July 2025 when deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office responded to Johnson’s home after receiving reports that two young victims had been inappropriately touched. Authorities said the victims were between the ages of 12 and 16.
Investigators later discovered that Johnson had also been communicating with the minors through the messaging app Discord. According to prosecutors, he attempted to move conversations to a more private platform and encouraged the victims to delete messages afterward.
Officials say Johnson also tried to gain the victims’ trust by buying them food and gifts while repeatedly warning them not to tell anyone about what was happening because he could “get in trouble.”
During the trial, one of the victims described the fear and confusion they experienced at the time.
“We were scared,” the victim testified in court. “We didn’t realize that this stuff was not okay because we were 12 years old.”
Child protection investigators from the You Thrive Child Advocacy Center assisted law enforcement in interviewing the victims and gathering evidence for the case.
Johnson had previously made headlines for his involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Court records show he pleaded guilty in 2024 to nonviolent charges after entering the Capitol through a broken window during the riot.
Prosecutors said Johnson later posted messages online referring to himself as an “American Terrorist” and a “Proud J6er.” He also violated court orders during that case by posing with a firearm while his charges were still pending.
When President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, Johnson was among roughly 1,500 individuals who received pardons related to the Capitol riot.
However, that pardon only applied to the January 6 offenses and had no effect on the later charges involving minors.
Following his recent conviction, Johnson will now spend the rest of his life in prison.
Authorities say the case highlights the importance of victims coming forward and the role of investigators and child advocacy groups in protecting young people from abuse.
Anyone who suspects child abuse is encouraged to contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or visit childhelp.org. The hotline operates 24 hours a day and offers confidential support in more than 170 languages.
You get what you deserve