TRENTON, Fla. (AP) — A man accused of snatching a 10-year-old girl from her school bus stop and holding her captive for three days pleaded no contest Thursday to charges that will send him to prison for at least 30 years.
"What we have done is removed a sexual predator from the community without putting a young girl and her family through a traumatic trial," said prosecutor Rod Smith.
Prosecutors said James Paul Johnson, 39, molested Jessica Rodriguez before finally dropping her off at a Wal-Mart. During the three days she was gone, her family pleaded for her return, and law enforcement officers searched across the state.
Johnson pleaded no contest to charges including kidnapping and molestation.