Former youth counselor gets 8 years for raping young girls

AUBURN – A former Auburn Little League coach and YMCA youth counselor has been handed an eight-year prison sentence for raping and sexually abusing young girls beginning nearly two decades ago.

Michael Johnson, 39, who was charged with 33 counts in all, pleaded guilty to eight felonies and two misdemeanors and was sentenced on Friday in Androscoggin County Superior Court.

Several of his victims, now in their 20s and 30s, told Justice Ellen Gorman how Johnson lured them to his apartment during the 1980s, gave them alcohol and drugs, and had sex with them. The victims described how their lives were damaged because Johnson, their youth leadership instructor, betrayed their trust.

In the years that followed, one of the women tried to commit suicide and another had nightmares about people trying to set her on fire. They all struggled with alcohol and drug problems, and they all needed counseling.

“My self-worth became nothing,” one victim said. “I just felt so dirty, so violated. I hated everyone and myself.”

“I was 13,” said another, “still very much a child.”

All three said they no longer feel guilt or shame about what happened to them. One even told Johnson that she has learned to forgive him.

“It is never too late to change, to fight the good fight,” she said, looking straight at him. “I want you to know that I forgive you and that as long as I’m alive I will pray for you.”

The victims tried to report Johnson in the 1990s, but were erroneously told by police that the statute of limitations had run out and it was too late to do anything. The women went back to police several years later after hearing rumors that Johnson was still chasing young girls. This time police pursued the case, and the investigation resulted in additional charges.

His sentence had been postponed so his victims could attend the hearing.

Johnson had admitted that he raped three teenage girls in the 1980s, then sexually abused two others in 2002 and 2003. He also admitted giving the girls alcohol and drugs, paying one of them for sex and distributing pornographic material depicting young children.

Johnson, who faces 10 years of probation after he gets out of prison, expressed remorse.

“I alone am responsible for us being here,” Johnson said before being taken out of the courtroom in handcuffs. “I’m sorry for all of the pain I’ve caused.”