New Hanover County father found guilty of viciously assaulting his child

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — After a weeklong trial in New Hanover County Superior Court, a jury returned a guilty verdict in a case involving the violent attack of a 4-year-old child.

Joshua Lewis Johnson, 42, was found guilty of felonious child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury and felonious child abuse for failing to provide prompt medical care resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to a news release from the District Attorney’s Office, evidence showed Johnson assaulted his child in the family home on November 12, 2016. The vicious attack resulted in a traumatic brain injury to the child, including a skull fracture, subdural hematoma (more commonly referred to as bleeding in the brain), and retinal hemorrhages.

After assaulting his son, the defendant refused to call 911 or take his son to
hospital.

Judge Kent Harrell sentenced Johnson to a maximum of 30 years in prison.

Johnson was previously convicted of Attempted Second Degree Rape in Rowan County in 2005.

He served five years in prison for that offense and is a registered sex offender.