Girl Details Rape at Trial
Preteen mother: 'Mommy said don't tell anyone'
by Bill Montgomery
Originally published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 23, 2004
Julia Johnson wept at the defendant's table as her 12-year-old daughter testified she "had sex with" Trianthony Timothy Cannon, 36, in an upstairs bedroom of her Atlanta home.
"More than once?" asked assistant district attorney Lee Young Williams.
"A lot," the girl replied. "Trianthony and Mommy said don't tell anyone because they would take me away."
Johnson, 38, is accused of allowing her live-in boyfriend, Cannon, to rape and sexually molest the then 11-year-old girl from last summer until January.
Johnson is charged in Fulton County Superior Court with first degree child cruelty, being a party to rape, and contributing to the deprivation of a minor by failing to provide pre-natal care to the victim, who gave birth to a son last month.
The baby and his mother are both in the care of Fulton County Department of Children Services.
Cannon pleaded guilty earlier this month and was sentenced to life plus 80 years for rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated assault, aggravated stalking of a child and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
Prosecutors are expected to complete their case against Johnson today.
Williams told the jury in outlining her case that evidence will show Johnson ignored the child's repeated complaints of sexual abuse.
Nicola Bone, a victim's advocate with the Fulton district attorney's office, testified that Johnson approached her last winter wanting the charges against Cannon dropped. "She said it was all a big misunderstanding, and that she needed [Cannon's] financial assistance."
In an opening statement to the jury, defense attorney Jackie G. Patterson said evidence will show Cannon violated a court restraining order to stay away from Johnson and her daughter, "and forced his way into their house; he beat Miss Johnson repeatedly, the evidence will show."
"You'll hear how my client called the police repeatedly and when they showed up Cannon would be gone," Patterson said.
The prosecution case will prove only that "my client is not the best parent in the world," Patterson said.
