A Florida man who was previously pardoned for his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol has now been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing two children, prosecutors said.
Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, a handyman from the Tampa Bay area, received the life sentence Thursday in Hernando County, Florida, after a jury found him guilty of multiple child-sex crimes, including molestation and sending harmful material to minors.
According to prosecutors, Johnson was convicted of two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation involving children between the ages of 12 and 16, as well as additional charges including lewd exhibition and electronically transmitting material harmful to a minor.
Investigators said the case began in July 2025 when deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint that two juveniles reported being inappropriately touched by Johnson. Authorities said the victims later told investigators that Johnson had bought them food and gifts and encouraged them to keep the abuse secret.
Court records also revealed that Johnson communicated with one of the victims through the messaging platform Discord and attempted to move the conversation to a more private app, urging the child to delete messages afterward.
During the trial, one victim testified about the fear and confusion they experienced. “We were scared,” the victim said in testimony cited in court records, explaining that they did not initially realize the behavior was abuse because of their age.
Johnson previously made headlines for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack. Prosecutors said he entered the Capitol through a broken window and was seen shouting at police officers during the chaos.
He later pleaded guilty to federal charges connected to the riot. In 2025, he was among more than 1,500 defendants linked to the attack who received pardons, commutations, or case dismissals during a sweeping act of clemency issued by President Donald Trump at the start of his second term.
Authorities said Johnson even referenced his pardon during conversations with one victim, telling the child he expected to receive compensation related to his status as a pardoned January 6 defendant and that he might include the victim in his will.
A Hernando County judge ultimately sentenced Johnson to life in prison, effectively ensuring he will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the crimes against the two minors.
The case is one of several instances in which individuals connected to the January 6 attack have later faced new criminal charges unrelated to the riot.
