The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

An Orange man received five years in prison Friday on charges of aggravated sexual assault before Judge Buddie Hahn in the 260th District Court. He could have faced up to 99 years for the first degree felony.

Johnathan Taylor, 20, was found guilty August 4 of assaulting a 7-year-old boy in November 2011. Taylor, who was 19 at the time of the assault, along with a 12-year-old boy and the 7-year-old boy went to an abandoned house. During testimony, the 12-year-old boy told jurors he had witnessed the sexual assault. He said he then grabbed the younger boy’s wrist and pulled him away after he “hit” Taylor in the face.

Friday, in a rare moment, in the hallway following sentencing, Taylor stopped and apologized to the victim’s mother. Then she hugged him as he stood there in handcuffs and shackles. She told Taylor he had destroyed her family. She also said she forgave him, but could not forget what he had done to her son.

The victim’s mother, during the victim impact statement had told the judge she did not wish ill will of Taylor but thought he should still be punished for his actions. There are specialized prisons in Texas which can accommodate Taylor, who is mentally disabled and suffers from Cerebral Palsy, which causes him to shake uncontrollably.