Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 12/03/03

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: Barry McBride

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

Jonathan William Alan Johnson Convicted of
Child Molestation and Sexual Abuse

Today, a Sonoma County jury returned guilty verdicts against defendant Jonathan William Alan Johnson. The jury deliberated on 50 counts after hearing testimony in the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Robert Boyd. The jury began its deliberations on November 13th. Guilty verdicts on 43 counts were returned this afternoon.

The guilty verdicts included 24 counts of Lewd Acts on a Child Under the Age of Fourteen. These acts involved six children. Mr. Johnson was also convicted of nine counts of Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor More Than Three Years younger. These acts involved seven girls. Additionally, the defendant was convicted of two counts of Dissuading a Witness from Reporting a Crime, three counts of Oral Copulation with a Person Under the Age of Eighteen, one count of an Act of Sexual Penetration with a Person Under the Age of Eighteen, and one count of Exhibiting Harmful Matter to a Minor.

Mr. Johnson was acquitted of one count each for Forcible Rape, Burglary, Unlawful Restraint, Sexual Battery While Restrained, Unlawful Sexual Intercourse, and Lewd Acts on a Child Under the Age of Fourteen. The jury could not reach verdicts on two counts.

The defendant was remanded into the custody of the Sheriff and bail has been set at no bail. A sentencing date is scheduled for February 6, 2004 at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Johnson faces an indeterminate prison sentence of at least 15 years-to-life.

Deputy District Attorney Barry McBride prosecuted the case and was assisted by District Attorney Investigator Ken Pistorio. Former Sonoma Police Department Sergeant Jeff Miller conducted the investigation and was assisted by Officer Christina Smith.