(Hernando County, FL) The Office of State Attorney Bill Gladson of the Fifth Judicial Circuit announced that 45-year-old Andrew Paul Johnson has been sentenced to life in prison following his conviction on multiple sex offenses involving children.

In February of this year, Johnson was found guilty of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12, lewd or lascivious molestation of a child between 12 and 16, two counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition, and transmitting harmful material to a minor through an electronic device.

The case began in July 2025 when deputies from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a sexual offense at a residence in Brooksville. Authorities were told that two juvenile victims alleged Johnson had inappropriately touched them.

Investigators were also given a cellphone that had been in the possession of one of the victims. According to the victim, Johnson had provided the device so they could communicate with him.

During the investigation, deputies discovered sexually explicit messages between Johnson and one of the victims on the Discord application. Authorities documented the images and communications, which showed Johnson encouraging the victim to download another messaging app for more private conversations and to delete messages afterward.

Law enforcement officials, along with the child protection team from the You Thrive Child Advocacy Center, conducted interviews with both victims. One victim provided detailed accounts of multiple incidents and identified several locations where the abuse allegedly occurred, some of which happened in the presence of the second victim.

The victim also stated that Johnson would buy gifts and food in an attempt to keep them from reporting the abuse and warned them not to tell anyone because he could get into