WILMINGTON — After a weeklong trial in New Hanover County Superior Court, a jury on Friday found New Hanover resident Joshua Lewis Johnson, 42, guilty of child abuse causing serious bodily injury to his four-year-old son and sentenced him to 23 to 30 years imprisonment.
Evidence showed that Johnson assaulted his son in their family home on November 12, 2016, causing traumatic brain injury.
“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,” District Attorney Ben David said in a release sent Friday afternoon. “After assaulting his son, the defendant refused to call 911 or take his son to a hospital.”
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Johnson was charged with “felonious child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury” and for “failing to provide prompt medical care resulting in serious bodily injury.” He was sentenced to custody in the N.C. Department of Correction by the Hon. Kent Harrell, Resident Superior Court Judge.
According to David’s release, Johnson was previously convicted of Attempted Second Degree Rape in Rowan County in 2005 and consequently served five years in prison. He is a registered sex offender.
