Shared from the 3/10/2020 The Providence Journal eEdition

‘I was right there and didn’t know,’ says mom of abused twin brothers

Matthew D. Johnson, the “God Poppa” of the boys, has been sentenced to serve 5 years for child molestation

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Johnson

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Matthew Johnson with the twins. The faces of the boys have been obscured by the Journal. [SUBMITTED PHOTO]

Editor’s Note: This story contains a graphic account of sexual assault.

NORTH KINGSTOWN — The Saturday after Thanksgiving 2017 will forever be fused in Sarah Anzora Newbert’s memory.

It was that day that one of her 7-year-old twins told her about his “God Poppa” putting his penis in the boy’s mouth.

His brother responded: “That’s just what God Poppa does. Why do you think it’s weird?” Newbert said.

Newbert threw up, called the boys’ therapist and contacted police.

“It’s just heartbreaking to hear,” Newbert said.

The God Poppa the boys were referring to was Matthew D. Johnson, their then-22-year-old godfather, who had helped Newbert care for them since they were born.

On Feb. 7, Johnson admitted to two counts of second-degree child molestation for sexually assaulting the twins. Superior Court Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg sentenced Johnson to 15 years, with five to serve, and the remainder suspended with probation. State prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge from first-degree child molestation in exchange for Johnson’s no-contest pleas.

Johnson was ordered to undergo sex-offender treatment, register as a sex offender upon his release and to have no contact with his victims.

The boys were in the courtroom to watch as Johnson, now 24, was taken away in handcuffs. They wrote victim impact statements that Newbert read in court.

“I always will feel not safe now because of what he did, how he hurt us. I am worried that it will happen again.”

“This changed me … My big emotions hurt sometimes. I am very angry. What happened was weird and uncomfortable and not right.”

The Journal did not identify the twins because they are juveniles and victims of sex crimes.

Newbert says she knew Johnson, of North Kingstown, since his childhood and taught him Sunday school at the First Baptist Church of North Kingstown.

“We all went to church together,” said Newbert,

40.

Johnson helped her manage life with three children under age 3, including infant twins.

“Matthew Johnson’s life revolved around kids. He babysat for everyone I know,” Newbert said.

The now 9-year-old twins can’t pinpoint when Johnson’s abuse began, but their anger and behavioral difficulties began escalating in preschool.

“It just boggles my mind. I was right there and didn’t know,” Newbert said.

Since their disclosures, the boys have been undergoing intensive therapy to help them understand that what Johnson did to them was wrong, said Newbert, who moved from Coventry to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 2014.

“They didn’t understand it was a crime,” she said. “It took them a long time to understand that it’s not OK.”

The case was charged and prosecuted in Rhode Island because that is where authorities believe most of the abuse occurred, she said.

The boys have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, have separation anxiety and “a long list of diagnoses.”

“There’s a lot of anger. It comes out in the wrong way,” Newbert said.

A grand jury indicted Johnson in 2018 based on Newbert’s testimony about the twins’ account.

For the next two years, Johnson rejected plea deal after plea deal, Newbert said. It appeared the case might head to trial.

“He didn’t want to go to jail. He thought he could get away with no jail time,” Newbert said.

John E. MacDonald, who represented Johnson with Jason Knight, declined to comment on the case Monday.

Kristy dosReis, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Peter Neronha, said: “We are grateful for the courage the victims demonstrated by coming forward, ensuring this defendant would be held accountable for his conduct.”

Newbert discussed the possibility that the twins would have to take the witness stand — although she didn’t want them to — with them at the beach last summer.

“We have to do it. What if he hurts more kids?” Newbert recalled the boys saying.

Newbert was flooded with thoughts about what would be the best resolution in the case in order to achieve justice for the kids. Should she be suggesting rehabilitation? Is jail time really going to help?

“We’re Christians. We believe in forgiveness,” she said.

She credited Assistant Attorney General Mark Trovato and a victim’s advocate from the attorney general’s office for involving them in the process.

“In the end, maybe if he goes to jail, maybe that will help him change his behavior,” Newbert said.

Newbert said she and the twins decided to share their stories to urge other parents to have the tough conversations with their kids to prevent similar abuse.

“The boys definitely want other kids to talk to their parents,” she said.

Newbert has her own advice: “Have the conversation with your kids. If your kids say something, don’ discount it.” kmulvane@ providence-journal.com

(401) 277-7417

On Twitter: @kmulvane

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