A Lexington Park man has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for sex abuse of a minor. Lowell Johnson, 65, was sentenced by Judge Michael Stamm on Thursday in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court. Johnson was a foster parent and former teacher. He had entered an Alford plea to one count. An Alford plea means he did not admit guilt but conceded the state could have proved its case if it went to trial.
Johnson had been charged with abusing five children who were either his foster or adopted children. They ranged in age from 10 to 16, according to Deputy State’s Julie White. He was arrested in July of last year after a suspected sexual abuse was reported to the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations by a Child Protective Services investigator.
Judge Stamm sentenced Johnson to 18 years but suspended it down to 10 years in the Maryland penal system. The state sentencing guidelines for the offense was 10 to 18 years.
The judge received a number of letters in support of Johnson and heard three character witnesses during the sentencing hearing. Johnson was a long-time social studies teacher at Great Mills High School. The judge noted that he too had been a social studies teacher and knew Johnson during that time.
A colleague at Great Mills, retired head of the social studies department at Great Mills Mary Weiskopf spoke in Johnson’s behalf. She said, “Lowell cared about the kids. He did a lot for the kids.” She said that included a lot of extra-curricular activities, including coaching girls’ softball and basketball.
Johnson was also a long-time part-time employee of the Department of Recreation and Park. Recreation supervisor Kenny Sothoron said he receives a lot of complaints from parents but he had never had one against Johnson in the almost 30 years he worked for the department.
Sothoron, during his statement was asked by White if he was aware of the charges against Johnson. Sothoron said he avoids reading the news. Then White asked if he was aware that five girls aged 10 to 16 were the victims. Johnson’s attorney Robert Harvey, Jr., objected and the judge sustained the objection.
