Andrew Paul Johnson was sentenced on Thursday, March 5, after he was convicted of molesting "middle school-aged" children
Credit: Hernando County Sheriff’s Office
NEED TO KNOW
- Andrew Paul Johnson, who worked as a handyman in Florida, was convicted of five criminal charges, including molestation, lewd and lascivious exhibition and transmission of material harmful to a minor in February 2026
- He was sentenced to life in prison for his crimes against two minors, who were between the ages of 12 and 16
- Johnson was among the 1,500 January 6 rioters pardoned by President Donald Trump at the start of Trump’s second term
A January 6 rioter who previously received a full pardon from President Donald Trump was sentenced to life in prison this week, after he was convicted of five criminal charges, including molestation, lewd and lascivious exhibition and transmission of material harmful to a minor.
Andrew Paul Johnson, who worked as a handyman in Florida, was sentenced on Thursday, March 5, the Office of the State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Florida confirmed in a press release. Johnson, 45, was convicted of the crimes in February, according to the press release.
In July 2025, deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office responded to Johnson's residence in Brooksville, Fla., after receiving a complaint that "two juvenile victims stated they were both inappropriately touched" by him. The victims' identities have not been made public due to their ages, which are between 12 and 16.
The lewd and lascivious exhibition and transmission of material harmful to a minor charge stems from messages Johnson sent to the victims on the messaging app Discord.
"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," the press release read.
Law enforcement and the You Thrive Child Advocacy Center’s child protective team interviewed the two victims for the case, according to the press release. In the interviews, the victims said that Johnson would buy them "food and gifts" in exchange for their silence, and repeatedly told them not to tell anyone about their interactions because he would "get in trouble."
"We were scared," one of Johnson's victims testified in court, according to trial records obtained by NPR. "Like, we didn't realize that this stuff was not okay because we were 12 years old."
Credit: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
PEOPLE has reached out to the Florida-based attorneys who prosecuted Johnson's case.
Johnson previously pleaded guilty in 2024 to nonviolent charges for entering through a broken window at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to NPR. He was then seen cursing at police officers who were attempting to clear the area. Johnson referred to himself as an"American Terrorist" and "Proud J6er" on social media, the outlet reported, citing prosecutors. Johnson additionally violated court orders by posing with a gun while his case remained pending, per the outlets.
Johnson was one of the 1,500 Capitol rioters that Trump, 79, pardoned as soon as he returned to office in January 2025. Trump also commuted the sentences for leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, the Associated Press reported at the time.
"These are the hostages," Trump said in the Oval Office in January 2025, per CNN. “Approximately 1,500 for a pardon – full pardon.”
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The Jan. 6 investigation became the largest criminal probe in history during the four years former President Joe Biden was in office, with arrests and convictions of over 1,000 people.
PEOPLE reached out to the White House for comment on Johnson.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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