Bible Study Teacher Gets 4 Years On Grooming Charge

Jacksonville’s NBC affiliate reports:

James Rankin Johnson, a former teacher at New Beginnings Christian Academy in Jacksonville, pleaded guilty to the charge of “offenses against students by authority figures” Tuesday. He accepted a plea deal for a lesser charge, with the state agreeing to drop two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation. He will serve four years in state prison with five years probation and register as a sex offender.

According to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrest report, over the course of a year, Johnson sent the victim messages through the TikTok and Text Me apps, telling the victim he “loved her,” calling her “babe” and asking if she was alone. The report says the girl’s mother confronted Johnson but he continued. The victim told police Johnson sent her notes about his desire to touch her private parts, which she said happened on three separate occasions.

Read the full article. Johnson taught bible study.

James Johnson pleaded guilty to abuse of power as an authority figure after he was sent inappropriate messages to students over TikTok and other social media. https://t.co/0ZKiyQanjU

— First Coast News (@FCN2go) March 15, 2023