Five Sentenced For Child Torture

Five people have been sentenced to prison for child abuse and neglect on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. 

According to U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger, Trina Mae Johnson was sentenced Thursday to 216 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, Johnson directed the torture, endangerment, neglect, and abuse of a child who was in Johnson’s legal custody through a foster care placement. The abuse included withholding food from the victim to the point of starvation, forcing the victim to stand in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time, and assaulting the victim in various ways.

Johnson was aided and abetted by Bertram Calvin Lussier Junior along with Johnson’s three sisters, who all regularly assumed responsibility for all or a portion of the care and supervision of the minor victim. 

Bobbi Jo Johnson was convicted by a federal jury in April and sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Ellie Johnson was sentenced to 48 months and three years of supervised release. Patricia Johnson was sentenced to 48 months and three years of supervised release. Lussier was sentenced to 24 months and two years of supervised release.