‘Fast Eddie’ Johnson guilty of sex assault on 8-year-old

OCALA – A jury of six found former NBA All-Star Edward Lee “Fast Eddie” Johnson Jr. guilty of sexual battery and sexual molestation on an 8-year-old girl.

The former Atlanta Hawks guard, who played in the National Basketball Association from 1977 to 1987, now faces a mandatory life sentence.

Johnson, 53, was also on trial for burglary of a dwelling with battery but was convicted on that count of the lesser charge of tresspassing.

Following two days of testimony and argument, the jury got the case at 2:15 p.m. They returned a verdict at 3:45 p.m.

For much of the day, Johnson, a Lake Weir High School graduate, sat emotionless in Circuit Judge David Eddy’s courtroom, watching as testimony unfolded before him. After the verdict was read, Johnson, who was seated at the defense table, shut his eyes, clasped his hands and slid his torso over the wooden table.

Circuit Judge David Eddy has yet to schedule a sentencing date.

In closing arguments, the lawyers urged jurors to use their common sense in concluding whether Johnson was guilty of sexually molesting an 8-year-old girl at Parkside Garden Apartments in August 2006.

“Imagine how painful it would be to cause this,” Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Kipke exclaimed. She held up a photograph of the girl’s swollen genital area taken during a medical examination several days after the alleged rape.

“It was force caused by that man,” she said, pointing to Johnson.

Defense attorney David Mengers argued that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to convict his client of the crimes.