A Florida handyman who was pardoned by President Donald Trump for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot has been sentenced to life in prison for child molestation.
Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, received the sentence Thursday, marking a significant development for one of several Jan. 6 defendants who have faced new criminal charges following Trump’s sweeping act of clemency.
Johnson was convicted last month in Hernando County, Florida, 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.
Sheriff’s deputies initiated an investigation into the child molestation allegations against Johnson in July 2025. One of his victims informed investigators that the abuse began around April 2024, several months before Johnson was sentenced for his Capitol riot conviction.
According to a sheriff’s office report, Johnson told one of his victims that he expected compensation for being a pardoned Jan. 6 defendant and would include the child in his will to inherit any leftover money. “This tactic was believed to be used to keep (the child) from exposing what Andrew had done,” the report stated.
Investigators also uncovered sexually explicit messages exchanged between Johnson and one of his victims on the Discord messaging app.
Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson’s office noted in a news release: “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.”
Johnson is among those who received clemency from Donald Trump, who issued pardons, commuted prison sentences, or ordered the dismissal of cases for all 1,500-plus people charged in the Capitol attack.
For his role in the riot, Chief U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg in Washington sentenced Johnson in August 2024 to one year behind bars after he pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges. Johnson, of Seffner, Florida, had attempted to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming he was pressured, but the judge rejected his request prior to sentencing.
Federal prosecutors stated that Johnson carried a bullhorn as he marched to the Capitol after attending Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally. He entered the building through an office window smashed by other rioters and was observed cursing and yelling at police officers after they deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd.
If you are a child and you need help because something has happened to you, you can call Childline free of charge on 0800 1111. You can also call the NSPCC if you are an adult and you are worried about a child, on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adults on 0808 801 0331.
