A Florida handyman who received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot has now been sentenced to life imprisonment for the horrific sexual abuse of two children. Andrew Paul Johnson, aged 45, was convicted on multiple serious charges related to child molestation, marking a dramatic fall from grace for a man who had previously benefited from sweeping clemency.
From Capitol Rioter to Convicted Child Molester
Johnson, a resident of Seffner, Florida, was among the more than 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. He had pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges stemming from the riot and was sentenced to one year in prison in August 2024 by Chief U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg in Washington. However, on his first day back in the White House last year, President Trump issued a sweeping pardon that covered Johnson and all other Capitol riot defendants, effectively wiping their federal convictions.
Disturbing Details of the Child Abuse Case
According to prosecutors in Hernando County, Florida, Johnson was convicted last month on two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child and one count of electronically transmitting material harmful to a minor. County Circuit Judge Stephen Toner handed down the life sentence on Thursday, ensuring Johnson will spend the remainder of his days behind bars for these heinous crimes.
Sheriff’s deputies began investigating the child molestation allegations against Johnson in July 2025. One victim disclosed that the abuse had commenced around April 2024, which was several months before Johnson was originally sentenced for his Capitol riot conviction. This timeline reveals that Johnson was actively abusing children even as he faced legal consequences for his role in the insurrection.
Manipulative Tactics and Digital Evidence
Investigators uncovered particularly disturbing aspects of Johnson's predatory behavior. According to a sheriff's office report, Johnson told one of his victims that he expected to receive financial compensation for being a pardoned January 6 defendant. He promised to include the child in his will to inherit any leftover money, a tactic believed to be designed to prevent the victim from exposing the abuse.
Furthermore, the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson’s office revealed that investigators found sexually explicit messages exchanged between Johnson and one victim on the Discord messaging app. In these messages, Johnson attempted to have the victim download another application for more private conversations and encouraged the victim to delete their messages afterward, demonstrating a calculated effort to conceal his crimes.
Johnson's Role in the Capitol Riot
Federal prosecutors detailed Johnson's active participation in the January 6 attack. After attending Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally near the White House, Johnson marched to the Capitol carrying a bullhorn. He entered the building through an office window that other rioters had smashed open. Once inside, he cursed and yelled at police officers after they used tear gas to disperse the mob of Trump supporters.
Johnson had initially asked to withdraw his guilty plea for the riot charges, claiming he was pressured into it, but Judge Boasberg rejected this request before sentencing. His subsequent pardon by Trump placed him among several January 6 defendants who have since been charged with new crimes, raising questions about the wisdom of such blanket clemency actions.
The life sentence for child molestation represents a stark contrast to the leniency Johnson received for his role in attacking the seat of American democracy. This case highlights the complex legal and moral questions surrounding presidential pardons, particularly when granted to individuals who later commit serious violent or sexual offenses against the most vulnerable members of society.
