A Blount County jury found Johnny Chandler, 57, guilty on multiple charges in the 2024 abduction and assault of a 10-year-old girl, delivering a major conviction for District Attorney Pamala Casey as she campaigns for Alabama attorney general.
Chandler was convicted of first-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping, two counts of sexual abuse of a child younger than 12, first-degree unlawful imprisonment and obstructing governmental operations.
The child was reported missing in the early morning hours of March 10, 2024, prompting a coordinated response from local, state and federal authorities. She was later found alive at a residence in Warrior, where Chandler was arrested.
At trial, prosecutors said Chandler confessed to abducting the child outside her home and assaulting her at his residence. Investigators later found a concealed space inside a basement wall, hidden behind a portable heater—where the child had been told to hide during an initial search by law enforcement.
Forensic evidence showed Chandler’s DNA was found on the victim’s clothing. Testimony also showed Chandler had groomed the victim over time, including by providing her with a cell phone.
“This case is one of the most disturbing we have seen,” Casey said after the verdict.
Casey credited the rapid, coordinated response of agencies, including the FBI North Alabama Violent Crime Task Force, with helping ensure the child was recovered alive.
Chandler faces additional pending charges, including first-degree human trafficking and reckless distribution of pornographic material. Sentencing is scheduled for May 26, 2026. He faces 10 to 99 years, or life, on the most serious charges.
The conviction comes as Casey seeks the Republican nomination for attorney general. She has centered her campaign on prosecuting violent crimes and crimes against children.
In a recent interview on This Matters with Bill Britt, Casey argued Alabama needs leadership grounded in courtroom experience.
