A 58-year-old Box Elder man, Brian Johnston, was sentenced today to 20 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for the repeated sexual abuse of a child between the ages of 8 and 12.
During the sentencing hearing, Seventh Circuit Judge Matthew Brown rejected a request for leniency based on Johnston’s age. Instead, he emphasized the severity of the crime, describing Johnston’s actions as “awful and devastating.” In response to the defense attorney’s concern that Johnston could die in prison due to his age, Judge Brown stated plainly, “You deserve it.”
The abuse came to light in September 2023 after the young victim bravely disclosed what had been happening. The child’s father read a victim impact statement, telling the judge that Johnston “robbed my daughter of her peace.”
Senior Deputy State’s Attorney Olivia Siglin described the case as “horrifying,” providing the court with disturbing details of the abuse, including instances of grooming and manipulation. She also noted that Johnston’s phone search history revealed a pattern of searches related to young-looking models and underage-themed pornography.
To spare the child the additional trauma of a trial and give her a sense of finality, the State reached a plea agreement in which Johnston pled guilty to a lesser charge of attempted first-degree rape. That charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 under South Dakota law.
This case was prosecuted on behalf of the State by Senior Deputy State’s Attorney Rachel Lindsay.
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