Ex-CNN producer John Griffin gets 19 years in prison for sexually abusing children

A shamed CNN employee charged with sexual abuse of a minor was informed by the victim that she will “never have faith in anyone again” – while receiving a prison term of over 19 years.

At a hearing in Vermont’s US District Court on Tuesday, John Griffin, aged 46, was sentenced to 19 years in jail and 15 years of monitored release.

Griffin, a resident of Stamford in Connecticut, admitted to the offense of enticing a minor by using interstate commerce in December.

As per VT Digger, the person who graduated from Princeton University informed Judge William K. Sessions III that he acted without weighing up the aftermaths, as he encountered individuals on the internet who were only known by their online aliases and were no longer seen as actual people.

According to prosecutors, Griffin, a father of three, persuaded a woman he encountered on the internet to accompany her 9-year-old daughter to his Ludlow ski retreat, which is valued at $2.5 million. There, he allegedly sexually abused the child.

He additionally gave the mother $3,000 during July of 2020 to travel from Nevada to Boston, where he collected them in his Tesla and transported them to his residence, and instructed the girl to participate in sexual activities.

The mother of the girl, whose name is Heather Carriker, has been accused of child maltreatment and child sexual misconduct, but there is no new information on her situation.

As a component of Griffin’s agreement, the two supplementary accusations of luring a juvenile were dismissed.

Griffin received a substantial verdict eighteen months after being detained in December of 2021 on numerous allegations of encouraging young girls as immature as seven to come to his residence in Vermont for instruction in “sexual compliance.”

The first records alleged that he convinced females he encountered on the internet that “regardless of their age, all females are the same” and that he was the appropriate person to sexually “educate” their juvenile offspring.

According to the state’s prosecutor, Griffin made an effort to lure two underage individuals into engaging in sexual behavior through the utilization of platforms such as Kik and Google Hangout.

During April of the year 2020, he purportedly proposed a “online instruction session” where he would guide a female parent and her adolescent offspring to undress and make contact with one another.

Griffin initially denied all accusations and was dismissed from CNN, where his LinkedIn profile shows he served as a senior producer for eight years after working at ABC, Fox News, and CBS.

Griffin bragged on his account that he collaborated “side-by-side” with the previously removed top journalist Chris Cuomo. Candid pictures from backstage also indicate the pair standing close to each other during breaks.

During his apprehension, the authorities aimed to confiscate Griffin’s Ludlow estate and his Tesla and Mercedes cars.

In Jan. 2022, Allyson Griffin, his spouse, initiated divorce proceedings and requested custody of their three offspring and possession of their $4.5 million Norwalk estate.

On Tuesday, David Kirby, the lawyer representing Griffin, attempted to convince Sessions to give a less severe punishment. He claimed that his client was going through a challenging marital situation and was also dealing with substance abuse involving cocaine and alcohol, according to VT Digger.

The prosecutor, Michael Drescher, strongly criticized Griffin, claiming that it’s difficult to envision a more heinous act than what he committed, unless it resulted in someone’s death.

“Mr. Griffin knows what to say and when to say it,” he included, remarking that he thought the experienced producer was also a deliberately manipulative.

The hearing was attended via video conference by the minor victim of Griffin and her grandmother.

“I’ll never trust anyone again,” the young lady, recognized as Jane Doe on account of her age, clarified to the magistrate.

“You make me sad and angry,” she stated to John Griffin.

The kid’s grandma claimed that Griffin’s behavior had permanently damaged the girl.

The Session ended and concluded that Griffin’s conduct was “beyond the pale.”

As a component of his agreement, Griffin is prohibited from communicating with individuals who are younger than 18 years old, unless there is a responsible adult authorized by his probation officer present.

He is not allowed to go to places that minors often visit, such as play areas, educational institutions, and amusement parks, unless authorized by his probation officer.