Albert Wayne Johnson, a 42-year-old man from Oregon, has been sentenced to 12 1/2 years in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release for sexually abusing two 15-year-old girls that he met on Snapchat. The incident occurred on August 8, 2022, when the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call reporting two minors abandoned in a park outside Portland. The girls told deputies that they met Johnson on Snapchat and that he drove them from Washington through Idaho and into Oregon, where he sexually abused them at a motel in Othello, Washington, and one of them at a campground near La Grande, Oregon. Johnson then abandoned the girls at a campsite in Barton Park and never returned.
Johnson was arrested at his home in La Grande on an outstanding parole violation warrant on August 30, 2022. Surveillance video from the motel in Othello showed him with the two girls, leading to his arrest. In November, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging him with traveling across state lines to engage in a sexual act with a minor, transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and commission of a sex offense by a registered sex offender.
In court filings, Johnson’s attorney, Elizabeth Daily, stated that he did not use physical force or coercion against the girls. She suggested that a sentence of just over 11 years would be sufficient, despite Johnson’s previous conviction for luring a minor and an attempt to commit sexual abuse in 2018. At the time of the incident, Johnson was under state supervision and had violated his conditions of release by changing his address without approval and failing to complete sex offender and substance abuse treatment.
The case highlights the dangers associated with social media platforms like Snapchat, where predators can easily prey on vulnerable teenagers. The fact that Johnson targeted young girls and sexually abused them while traveling through multiple states underscores the need for increased awareness and protection measures for minors using such platforms. The sentencing of Johnson to over a decade in prison serves as a warning to others who may be considering engaging in similar criminal behavior, emphasizing the severity of the consequences for those who exploit and harm minors.
This case also sheds light on the importance of timely intervention and law enforcement response in protecting minors from predators. The quick action taken by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office in responding to the call reporting the abandoned minors helped ensure the safety of the girls and led to the arrest and prosecution of Johnson. The coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies across state lines also played a crucial role in bringing Johnson to justice and holding him accountable for his actions. Moving forward, continued vigilance and cooperation among authorities, parents, and social media platforms are essential in safeguarding young people from online dangers and exploitation.
