Napa Man Convicted Of Molesting 8-Year-Old Female Family Member

NAPA, CA —A 48-year-old Napa man was recently convicted of 22 criminal charges for molesting a family member when she was 8 and 9 years old, the Napa County District Attorney's Office said.

A Napa County jury found Christopher Michael Johnson guilty April 1 of nine counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, nine counts of oral copulation with a 1o or younger, and four counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child.

At the conclusion of an eight-day trial, jurors also found true special allegations that the defendant had substantial sexual conduct with a child.

The convictions are the result of sexual contact Johnson had with the young family member in 2019 in Napa County, when she was 8 and 9 years old, the Napa County District Attorney's Office said.

Napa County Superior Court Judge Mark Boessenecker presided over the recent trial which included testimony from the now 10-year-old child.

"It took extraordinary courage for this young survivor to enter a courtroom during these uncertain and difficult times, tell a roomful of masked strangers the truth of her ordeal, be cross-examined, and face her abuser, someone who should have been a trusted adult and protector in her life," said Deputy District Attorney Agnes Dziadur, who prosecuted the case.

"I am grateful that this jury honored that bravery and hopeful that this little girl can finally get some well-deserved peace and closure in her life," Dziadur said.

Detectives with the Napa Police Department started investigating Johnson after Child Welfare Services received an anonymous tip that the child may be in danger. Detective Garrett Wade led the investigation, which revealed the abuse happened numerous times during 2019, police said.

Johnson was arrested Dec. 18, 2019, at his Napa workplace and booked into the Napa County Department of Corrections on suspicion of numerous charges related to the sexual abuse of a child.

Johnson faces life in prison and remains in custody in lieu of $2 million bail. He is scheduled to appear in court April 29 for a sentencing hearing.