Man sentenced for criminal rape of minor

Child rape case to go to trial in September

Leroy Johnson will go to trial nearly five years after he was accused on multiple charges, including sex crimes against a minor. Johnson, 36, was accused of six counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor younger than 13 years old, criminal sexual contact of a minor, two counts of bribing a witness and false […]

RIO RANCHO — A man has been sentenced for rape of minor charges as well as other charges tied to a 2019 incident in Rio Rancho.

Leroy Johnson, 37, of Albuquerque, was sentenced Dec. 19 to 15 years with seven years suspended and eight years in department of corrections for attempt to commit sexual penetration with child under 13, four counts of criminal sexual penetration with child under 13, two counts criminal sexual contact with child under 13, two counts bribery of a witness and false imprisonment in the city of Rio Rancho on Sept. 1, 2019. The victim was 8 years old.

The sentencing occurred the week Johnson was scheduled to go to trial, but he pleaded guilty before jury selection could take place.

During the sentencing hearing, the victim’s mother said her child could not speak because she was so scared.

On top of these charges, Johnson also has pending trial matters for similar charges in Albuquerque. Despite a motion to continue from Johnson’s defense, the judge denied it and added that this sentence will run concurrent with the sentencing in Albuquerque.