Fredericksburg’s David Johnston has been handed a nine-year prison sentence for traveling across state lines to engage in sexual conduct with a minor, authorities announced. The 62-year-old Fredericksburg resident pled guilty to the offense in November 2017 and was sentenced on February 28, 2018, by Judge John D. Bates. Upon his release from prison, Johnston will be under supervised release for 15 years and must register as a sex offender for 25 years.
According to government evidence, Johnston contacted an undercover FBI officer through a social network site in January 2017. Over several days, he arranged to meet the minor for sexual acts. On January 31, he traveled from Virginia to Washington, D.C., where he was arrested. Johnston has previously pleaded guilty to indecent acts upon a minor under 16 years of age in 1990.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which aims to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, including members of the Washington Field Office and MPD, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Park prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Assistant Director Andrew W. Vale of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Chief Peter Newsham of the Metropolitan Police Department commended the efforts of all involved in bringing Johnston to justice.
The sentence sends a stark message about the consequences of traveling for illegal sexual conduct with minors. Johnston’s case underscores the ongoing efforts by federal, state, and local agencies to combat child exploitation and protect our children from predators online.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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