A Warren man is headed to state prison for decades on rape of a child against two females.

Michael Dean Johnson, 47, Canton St., was sentenced to 17.5 to 35 years incarceration on Tuesday by Judge Gregory Hammond.

He was deemed a sexually violent predator and made a lifetime Megan’s Law sexual offender, as well.

He was charged in Feb. 2021. Police were dispatched to Johnson’s residence on Feb. 11 for a report of a male threatening self-harm and spoke with Johnson “who advised,” per the affidavit of probable cause, “that his life had just changed as two female victims were reporting alleged sexual abuse.”

A relative of Johnson confirmed the allegations and police transported Johnson to Warren General Hospital after he “continued to make comments of self-harm.”

Later that day, two females arrived at the city police station to file a complaint.

One victim said she was abused from the age of 6 to 16 and alleged that Johnson forced her to engage in oral sex “weekly” and at “multiple locations in Warren County.”

Police then spoke with the other victim, who reported abuse from the age of 8 to 17. She said Johnson allegedly “made her engage in sexual intercourse” as well as oral sex also weekly and at multiple locations.

That victim told police that Johnson “acknowledged his actions” on a phone call with her grandparents, who confirmed the account.

“These cases are always tough, your honor,” Johnson’s attorney, Eric Hackwelder, said.

He said his client is “deeply sorry for what he’s done” and is “ready to face the consequences.”

One victim read a statement, asking Johnson to “please, own up to your actions.” A statement was read on behalf of the second victim. She told the court she attempted suicide but “didn’t want him to be the reason I gave up.”

She asked for a sentence of life in prison and to never see Johnson again.

Hammond called the victim’s statements “haunting” and “heartbreaking.”

He said it was “completely disheartening” that Johnson did not respond to those statements outside of “mumbling ‘It’s horrible.'”

The state Attorney General’s office and defense counsel negotiated the prison sentence and Hammond said he would accept it for the victim’s benefit.

“You’ve brought a perpetrator to justice,” Hammond said. “Your actions were heroic. You really don’t deserve their mercy, Mr. Johnson.”

Hammond apologized to the victims that he was unable to sentence Johnson to life in prison.

The total prison sentence is 210 to 420 months, or 17.5 to 35 years.

Hammond did sentence him to 105 to 210 months with credit for one day time served, $625 in fines and fees, sex offender counseling, no contact or communication with the victims, no unsupervised contact with minors and to undergo a mental health evaluation and comply with all recommendations. At a second count of rape of a child, he sentenced Johnson to an additional 105 to 210 months incarceration and a no contact order with the victim.

He also sentenced Johnson to 105 to 210 months incarceration each — to be served concurrently — on two charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Hammond said the sentence would be concurrent to mitigate issues on potential appeals.

All four of the charges Johnson pled to are first-degree felonies.

Hammond said each charge — as well as the sexually violent predator designation — brings lifetime registration requirements as a sexual offender.

Johnson had posted bail right after he was charged. At the conclusion of Tuesday’s hearing, he was handcuffed and led to the county jail.