433
submitted 7 hours ago by Hatshepsut@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

A Florida handyman who was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison for molesting two children had been convicted of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but was pardoned by President Donald Trump.

Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, is among several Jan. 6 defendants who have been charged with new crimes since Trump’s sweeping act of clemency for Capitol rioters. On his first day back in the White House last year, Trump pardoned, commuted prison sentences or ordered the dismissal of cases for all 1,500-plus people charged in the attack.

Johnson was convicted last month of two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child and one count of electronically transmitting material harmful to a minor, according to prosecutors in Hernando County, Florida. County Circuit Judge Judge Stephen Toner handed down Johnson’s life sentence.

Sheriff’s deputies began investigating the child molestation allegations against Johnson in July 2025. One of his victims told investigators that the abuse started around April 2024, several months before Johnson was sentenced for his Capitol riot conviction.

Johnson told one of his victims that he expected to be compensated for being a pardoned Jan. 6 defendant and would be putting the child in his will to inherit any leftover money, according a sheriff’s office report.

“This tactic was believed to be used to keep (the child) from exposing what Andrew had done,” the report said. Investigators found sexually explicit messages that Johnson exchanged with one of his victims on the Discord messaging app, according to Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson’s office.

“In the messages, Johnson attempted to have the victim download another application for a more private conversation and encouraged the victim to delete their messages afterwards,” Gladson’s office said in a news release.

More at link

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[-] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 1 points 29 minutes ago

Why is this person only being given a life sentence, instead of death? I can't imagine a rapist being someone we ever want as a member of society.

[-] bobzer@lemmy.zip 2 points 19 minutes ago
  • Giving the state the power to kill it's citizens never ends well for democracy
  • Many people are exonerated after being convicted. How many innocent lives is revenge worth?
  • Is your ideal justice system punitive?

The list goes on and on

[-] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 hour ago

Is this my two minutes hate?

[-] somtwo@lemmy.world 7 points 2 hours ago

GOP: Group Of Pedophiles

[-] neukenindekeuken@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 hours ago

Only the best people.

[-] JenitalJouster@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 hours ago

there has to be something going on like the moment you vote red do you just become a pedo? this is what the millionth time atp??

[-] very_well_lost@lemmy.world 24 points 5 hours ago

Damn... it's always the ones you most suspect

[-] D_C@sh.itjust.works 3 points 49 minutes ago

Yep. He'll be running for president next.

[-] bender223@lemmy.today 6 points 3 hours ago

It takes one to know one. 🤣

[-] favoredponcho@lemmy.zip 12 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Should’ve been rich and he could’ve gotten away with it. Don’t be a poor pedophile. That’s the only lesson our society cares to teach in this case. Rich pedophiles can be president.

[-] Redvenom@retrolemmy.com 7 points 4 hours ago

Being a pedo is a pre-requirement for this guys?

[-] criscodisco@lemmy.world 33 points 7 hours ago
[-] bender223@lemmy.today 8 points 3 hours ago

The Epstein party. 😜

[-] tanisnikana@lemmy.world 19 points 7 hours ago

Why did they call him a “handyman” when the moment he did his heinous deeds, all his titles were overwritten with “child molester”?

[-] imsufferableninja@sh.itjust.works 17 points 6 hours ago

Because job title in America is the most important thing about someone

[-] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 8 points 6 hours ago

It's how much money you have. You can often figure it out from their title.

[-] imsufferableninja@sh.itjust.works 5 points 5 hours ago

The only thing people want to talk about at social gatherings is work. When meeting new people, I ask "what are your hobbies" or "what do you like to do" and either they misunderstand and talk about their job or talk briefly about other things and then immediately shift to work.

[-] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 1 points 13 minutes ago

Personally, I am guessing that the topic of work is considered a safe subject of one's existence. Most folks probably don't relate to each other, considering the breadth of hobbies and interests people have. I like Fantasy Maiden Wars, prefer UC Gundam without Newtype woo, and enjoy reading hentai manga. Methinks most people would be irritated, disinterested, or horrified by my existence.

We don't live in a world of local isolation. We can absorb cultures and ideas far from home, by choice, instead of being dyed by the people who live nearby. This is good and bad: we have the freedom to become our truer selves, but that also means we aren't forced to become incidental friends with people in meatspace.

[-] somethingsnappy@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago

Find new people.

[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

O.T.B.

Only
The
Best

[-] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 5 points 5 hours ago

They let you do that when you're rich and famous!

What do you mean I'm not rich and famous? Hey! Let me go!

[-] Danarchy@lemmy.nz 8 points 6 hours ago

MAGA gonna fuck kids one way or the other

[-] bender223@lemmy.today 2 points 3 hours ago

their slogan should be "fuck them kids!"

[-] pubquiz@lemmy.world 13 points 7 hours ago

Pedo loves pedo - offers pardon.

Any news today?

[-] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 1 points 14 minutes ago

that is why the voters love trump, because they themselves are Sa-ERS, or support it.

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 hours ago

He is not being offered a pardon for this.

[-] ruuster13@lemmy.zip 8 points 6 hours ago

Hm. Didn't realize that was even frowned upon in Florida.

this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2026
433 points (100.0% liked)

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