Columbia County District Attorney Wants Serial Rapist Kept Behind Bars, Asks For The Public’s Help
Columbia County District Attorney Bobby Christine wants to make sure that a serial rapist, convicted of raping multiple women in 1986, was handed five consecutive life sentences, plus 40 years for the crimes in Columbia County Superior Court, stays behind bars.
Christine says the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles has voted to grant a tentative clemency release to Willie L. Johnson, but says based on the disturbing facts and seriousness of the crimes, Johnson’s sentence should be served.
Christine said the Board needs to hear from the public in order to keep Johnson behind bars.
Christine has written a letter to the residents of Columbia County:
Columbia County District Attorney Bobby Christine’s Letter to Columbia County Residents
“A network of law abiding citizens is necessary to protect our quality of life. I am hitting the “alert button” to energize the network.
In 1986 Willie L. Johnson, dressed in an Army uniform he was not entitled to wear in order to trick young wives of soldiers while their husbands were on duty at Fort Gordon (Eisenhower), attacked on separate days three women. This predator bound, gagged, violated, brutalized, raped, sodomized, burglarized and robbed members of our community, one of whom was four months pregnant.
In nearly 30 years of practicing law I have never read facts more disturbing, sickening, and terrifying than the facts adduced at trial. The three brave ladies resolved they wouldn’t let another be harmed by Johnson. Despite all the reasons not to do so, they each took the stand and detailed the horrors to which Johnson subjected them.
A jury convicted Johnson of two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, one count of aggravated sodomy, one count of attempted aggravated sodomy, two counts of armed robbery, and one count of burglary. A strong judge on behalf of a righteous community sentenced Johnson to serve consecutively five life sentences plus forty years. Consecutively, that means to run end to end, one after another.
The sentence was fair, mete and just. Now that sentence is at risk.
I am enlisting your help to ensure that Willie Johnson’s sentence be served. Truth in sentencing is what I am asking you to help achieve.
With the support of brave members of law enforcement in our Sheriff’s Office, three police departments, state and federal agencies, your District Attorney’s Office is holding the line to keep this community safe and punish offenders. However, the decision whether to keep this predator rapist behind bars is not in your District Attorney’s hands, and that’s why I am calling on you.
The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles (the Board) has the authority to keep us safe by merely letting the sentence in this case be served. I believe the Board needs to hear from you in order to muster the courage necessary to keep Willie Johnson behind bars.
I am sending this letter like an emergency flare to rally you to the fight. Join me right now, and contact the Board. Reference “Johnson, Willie L. 201177” in your communications with the Board.”
You May Reach the Board by Telephone, Email and Hard Copy Letter at This Number and These Addresses:
Phone number: 404-656-4661
Email: GaParoleBoard@pap.ga.gov
Mail: State Board of Pardons and Paroles; 2 M.L. King, Jr. Drive, SE; Suite 430, Balcony Level, West Tower; Atlanta, Georgia 30334
“Sexual Predators are the least likely offenders to be rehabilitated, in my opinion. Georgians deserve better than to have Johnson returned to live amongst us. Three courageous ladies testified about how they suffered at the hands of Johnson. Columbia County citizens owe it to them to do our part. let us energize our network of good and law abiding citizens.
Keeping this community safe is a team effort. The Board will hear you, as will future predators looking for a community where they can victimize the innocent, and think they can get away with it and walk out of jail one day,” said Christine.
