Officials with the Kershaw County Sheriff's Office say Circuit Court Judge Casey Manning sentenced Danny Shawn Johnston II to 16 years in jail for committing a lewd act on a 9-year-old girl.
/ KCSO
KERSHAW COUNTY, SC (WACH) - A 33-year-man was sentenced in Kershaw County Wednesday for child molestation.
Officials with the Kershaw County Sheriff's Office say Circuit Court Judge Casey Manning sentenced Danny Shawn Johnston II to 16 years in jail for committing a lewd act on a 9-year-old girl.
Authorities say Johnston pled guilty to second degree criminal sexual conduct in a plea agreement. He was originally charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a 25 years to life in prison penalty.
“I would rather this man been sentenced to much lengthier time of imprisonment, but in today’s climate of jail overcrowding and budget cuts, I am satisfied with this sentence,” said Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews. My hope is that the little girl in this case will eventually be able to live a somewhat normal life given what this man did to her.”
Matthews says investigators received information that Johnston had sexually assaulted a child in May 2011. After interviewing the victim and Johnston, Johnston ultimately admitted his guilt. Johnston was arrested and taken to the Kershaw County Detention Center.
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