A 37-year-old Baton Rouge man faces life in prison after he was convicted of multiple sex crimes, including first-degree rape of a child, according to the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office.
A 12-person jury unanimously found Willie Burt Johnson guilty on Friday of first-degree rape of a child under 13, sexual battery of a child under 13, and indecent behavior with a juvenile under 13, District Attorney Hillar Moore said.
Johnson was a “stepfather figure” to the child when he committed the crimes and had been present in her life for 10 years before, said Assistant District Attorney Schyler Brooks, who led the prosecution.
Moore said the mandatory penalty for first-degree rape is life in prison. A pre-sentence investigation on June 18 will determine sentencing on the sexual battery and indecent behavior charges, which can range from 25 to 99 years or 2 to 25 years, respectively.
Johnson was arrested on May 29, 2022, in connection with the crimes, which started in November 2020 when the child was 13 and continued until May 2022, according to prosecutors. He was indicted in January 2023.
Brooks said the indecent behavior charge was fairly easy to prosecute because the mother walked into the child’s room while it was happening.
However, the first-degree-rape and sexual battery charges were harder because there was little DNA evidence to support them, Brooks said. The convictions were obtained based on the victim’s testimony.
“We are very happy this very courageous survivor had her day in court and received the justice she deserved,” Moore said in a release.
The victim became well-acquainted with Klancy, a 2-year-old golden retriever who acted as a calming presence for the victim, Moore said. Klancy, the DA Office's facility dog, attended every meeting, interview and court session with the victim.
“We are also very proud of the efforts of the assistant district attorneys and their trial team, which included K-9, Klancy, our office’s facility dog who assisted during this trial,” Moore said.