Carson City man receives life sentence for sexually assaulting child
Submitted by editor on Mon, 06/30/2014 - 2:36pm
A Carson City man was sentenced 35 years to life in prison on seven counts of sexually assaulting and abusing a child from 2005 to 2012. James G. Johnson, 49, was sentenced Monday in Carson City District Court for 7 different counts of illegal sexual acts with a minor.
After a 4 day jury trial and 9 hours of deliberation, on April 4, 2014, a jury found Johnson guilty of all 7 counts charged by the District Attorney’s Office. Johnson testified at trial and denied the allegations, but the jury found Johnson guilty of three counts of Sexual Assault Upon a Child Under the Age of 14, a single count of Sexual Assault Upon a Child Under the Age of 16, and three counts of Lewdness with a Child Under the Age of 14. Johnson faced 7 life sentences and 160 years minimum for the crimes he committed.
At sentencing, the state sought the state sought a minimum sentence of 160 years. Assistant District Attorney Mark Krueger argued that the Court should run Johnson’s sentences consecutively because each act was a separate act that changed the victim’s life forever. Krueger stated, “While the pain and memories of the assaults for this victim will not be erased, her mind and body may now be at peace knowing her assailant will no longer abuse her.” The Court followed the recommendation of the Department of Parole and Probation and chose to run each of the 7 counts concurrently. As a result, Johnson received a single life sentence with eligibility for parole after 35 years.
The jury found Johnson guilty of sexually assaulting the victim from January 2005 until December 2012. While the 7 counts of assault occurred in Carson City there were allegations that additional sexual assaults occurred while the victim and Johnson lived in Lyon County. At sentencing, the victim came forward and told Johnson that she can “finally eat and sleep because it won’t happen again.”
In a released statement, District Attorney Neil Rombardo stated, “This conviction once again proves our Office is committed to seeking justice for some of our most vulnerable victims, children. I believe this conviction on 7 counts of sexual acts committed on a child represents the most serious verdict for these types of crimes in Carson City to date."
