MICHIGAN
WZZM
John Hogan, WZZM September 9, 2015
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WZZM) — A former Muskegon church leader accused of having sex with children lost his bid for a new trial following a Court of Appeals decision upholding his 2014 conviction, which resulted in a prison term of up to 35 years.
Carlton Lindberg Johnson, 78, a longtime leader at Faith Congregational Church of God in Christ, was convicted on three counts of criminal sexual conduct involving relatives, two of whom were under the age of 13.
Investigators said he sexually abused multiple girls dating back to 1957.
Johnson in June, 2014 was sentenced to between 17 and 35 years in prison. He’ll be 93 years old before he can be considered for release.
Johnson, who wore a clerical collar during his four-day trial, asked the Appeals Court to declare a mistrial, saying he was not afforded a fair and impartial jury.
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