From the pulpit to a prison cell, 37-year-old Demiro Rick Johnson will be 71 years old when he is released from prison and required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his natural life, according to court documents obtained by The North Carolina Beat.
On Friday, a judge sentenced Johnson, a now – convicted child sex predator for the statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl, whom he referred to as his “spiritual daughter” and who had attended his church.
In August 2022, The North Carolina Beat spoke with Tereia Barnes, the mother of the 14-year-old girl. During our conversation, Barnes revealed that her daughter was 22 weeks pregnant with Johnson’s child at the time. She explained that her daughter and her other children had been attending Johnson’s church, Church of Apostolic Saints, since 2019, although she herself had never attended. She stated that she learned in March 2022 that Johnson had been engaging in a sexual relationship with her daughter.
According to Barnes, her then 14-year-old daughter revealed that the first two instances of sexual intercourse with Johnson occurred in October 2021 at an apartment where Johnson was residing in Greensboro. Barnes told The North Carolina Beat that she suspected Johnson was involved in a secret relationship with her daughter after discovering a note on her daughter’s phone that read, “Happy Five Months.”
In one incident, the minor girl told Barnes that she and her brother were at Johnson’s residence in Greensboro when Johnson mentioned that other children from the church would be coming over to spend the night. Barnes stated that her daughter told her that Johnson had told her daughter and son that they could sleep in his room with him, while the other children could sleep in his daughter’s room and in other areas downstairs.
Pastor Demiro Rick Johnson lured 14-year-old girl to his Greensboro apartment to rape her
Barnes told The North Carolina Beat that her daughter said that the other children from Johnson’s ministry, who were supposed to attend the so-called sleepover never arrived. She said Johnson told her daughter and son that they did not have to leave his room and could stay with him. While watching television, Barnes’ son fell asleep, according to her.
She stated that after her son fell asleep, her daughter told her that Johnson had put his arms around her and asked if she was “comfortable.” Barnes recounted that her daughter responded to Johnson, “Yeah, I guess”, to which Johnson then asked if the 14-year-old was “scared.”
“My daughter said she told Johnson, ‘No, I’m not scared. What I’m scared for? Barnes stated
After attempting to determine whether the then 14-year-old child was scared, Johnson began rubbing his hands down the child’s back and kissing her, according to Barnes. She said her daughter told her Johnson asked the if she was “comfortable” again and whether she had ever allowed a man to kiss her before. Barnes stated that her daughter responded ‘No,’ to which Johnson assured the child that he would take it slow and help her feel “comfortable.”
Barnes said her daughter told her she “just sat there” and didn’t know how to react as Johnson pulled the child’s pants down, pulled her to the floor, climbed on top of her, and began to sexually assault her. According to her daughter, Johnson asked if she wanted him to stop, but before she could respond, he continued to penetrate the 14-year-old girl.
“She told me that after he started going slow for a little bit, it was over,” Barnes said.
Demiro Johnson arrested at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport for statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl
On January 5, 2023, Johnson was arrested at Hartsfield – Jackson Atlanta International Airport due to outstanding warrants from North Carolina concerning Barnes’ daughter. He was served with one warrant for statutory rape of a child, with the offense date recorded as March 2022 in High Point, and another warrant from October 2022 originating in Greensboro.
Pastor Demiro Rick Johnson sentenced to 34 years in prison
On Friday, Johnson pleaded guilty to statutory rape and accepted a plea deal of 17 years; however, a Guilford County judge rejected this agreement and sentenced Johnson to a total of 34 years in prison. Upon his release, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his natural life.
Johnson served as the pastor of the Church of Apostolic Saints in Greensboro prior to his arrest in 2023. He will now continue his fraudulent ministry from behind bars.
Statement from 14-year-old girl’s mother Tereia Barnes
Barnes told The North Carolina Beat that the road for her family and daughter has been long and that they are praying for peace and comfort during this time.
“It’s been a long road. Please pray for peace and comfort during this time,” Barnes said in a statement to The North Carolina Beat following Demiro Johnson’s sentencing. “Although he deserves much more time, my family is at peace with what he has now. He will have time to sit and think of his actions. I wish him no harm, as the universe will deal with him accordingly. I pray that one day I will forgive him and be able to move on, but today is not that day. Please respect our family and let my child heal.”
