PORT ANGELES — A convicted sex offender accused of trading cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana with young girls in exchange for sexual contact has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Lynn George Johnson, 68, of Sequim pleaded guilty last month to two counts of second-degree rape of a child, one count of third-degree rape of a child, three counts of second-degree child molestation, two counts of third-degree child molestation and one count of communication with a minor for immoral purposes, court papers said.
He was sentenced Monday to 420 months — or 35 years — in prison.
“The defendant will not be eligible for release until he is 103 years old,” said Matthew Roberson, Clallam County deputy prosecuting attorney.
Three girls — ages 16, 15 and 13 — told Sequim police Jan. 16 that they had been sexually abused by their neighbor for several years, court papers said.
Johnson was described as a “grandfather-type figure” to the girls who provided a place to hang out and cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana, prosecutors said.
When the girls could not pay for the items, Johnson would require that the girls allow him to perform sexual acts on them as payment, prosecutors said.
A fourth victim stepped forward during the Sequim police investigation, and a fifth girl confirmed that she had received text messages of a sexual nature from Johnson.
“A common theme among all the victims is that Johnson never asked that they perform any acts on him, that it was always him performing acts of a sexual nature on them,” Sequim police Sgt. Michael Hill said in the affidavit for probable cause.
Two of the girls said that Johnson raped them when they were too intoxicated to resist.
Sequim police arrested Johnson without incident about a block from his residence Feb. 1.
According to Hill’s account, Johnson told police: ‘I better get a lawyer.’ ”
Johnson was convicted of child molestation in 1996. He was a Level 2 sex offender when he committed the crimes in Sequim from 2016 through 2018.
Johnson faced a standard sentencing range of 210 to 280 months in prison.
Superior Court Judge Brent Basden imposed a sentence above the standard range because of aggravating circumstances and the fact that Johnson engaged in sexual conduct with minors in exchange for a fee, prosecutors said.
Basden said the victims who spoke at the sentencing hearing were “heroes.”
“Lynn G. Johnson, you honestly ruined my life,” one of the victims wrote in a victim impact statement.
“I wish there was still a death penalty because you shouldn’t be alive and you ain’t going to heaven,” the 14-year-old said.
“People like you are going to hell and that’s where you belong you scumbag.”
Another victim said Johnson was “supposed to be the nice old guy next door but he took advantage of me, he took advantage of the fact that I was just a little kid.”
“I think because of what Lynn did to me that I will always have trust issues,” the girl said.
Sarah Woolman, Clallam County deputy prosecuting attorney, said her office will aggressively prosecute those who commit crimes against children.
“These are some of the most difficult cases because we have to ask so much from the children involved,” Woolman said.
“These girls displayed more courage and strength than we see from many adults.
“We echo the judge’s sentiment that they are heroes,” Woolman added.
“They stood up for themselves, and they spoke up to make sure the defendant can never harm another child.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
