ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former U.S. Army private, Austin Blair Johnson, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for assaulting a newborn and raping an adult while stationed at Fort Belvoir. Johnson was found guilty of two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of sexual abuse. The sentences will be served consecutively.
On June 24, 2012, Johnson violently shook his prematurely born daughter, Minor Victim 1 (MV1), causing her skull to fracture. MV1 was left with extensive brain damage, leading to a hemispherectomy and leaving her legally blind, non-verbal, and paralyzed on one side. Johnson also sexually assaulted Adult Victim 1 (AV1) in their Fort Belvoir residence.
The court documents detail how Johnson attempted to cover up his actions, falsely claiming accidental falls to AV1 and taking MV1 to the emergency room for her injuries. The newborn’s condition worsened, resulting in a transfer to Walter Reed Medical Center and later Children’s National Medical Center.
Johnson was ordered to pay over $1.1 million in restitution as part of his sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander E. Blanchard prosecuted the case, with Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton announcing the sentence.
The case has sparked a nationwide conversation about military crimes and the need for better oversight within military bases. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia provides further information on their website, along with related court documents.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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