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On Friday, after three years of pre-trial hearings in a sexual assault case, Samuel Curtis “S.C.” Johnson III was sentenced to just four months in jail and a $6,000 fine.

The 59-year-old heir to the SC Johnson & Son fortune was first charged with repeated sexual assault of a child in 2011. He faced a prison term of up to 40 years if convicted. When it was later revealed that the girl in question was Johnson’s stepdaughter, the Racine, Wisconsin District Attorney’s Office moved to have his initial felony charges include incest.

Johnson was accused of molesting his stepdaughter repeatedly when she was between the ages of 12 and 15, but the prosecution’s case was weakened when she refused to come forward and testify.

The billionaire’s well-funded legal team came to the rescue and Johnson pleaded guilty to two drastically lesser misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and fourth-degree sexual assault.

Sadly, he won’t even be required to register as a sex offender and will also be able to leave jail (for work) after just 60 days.

The judge presiding over the trial, Michael F. Hart, argued that maximum prison terms should only be for “maximum defendants” — whatever that’s supposed to mean. Hart went on to say that Johnson leads a “productive life” and had never been in previous trouble with the law.

“I’d like to deeply apologize to my stepdaughter, [name redacted], and my wife…for the tremendous hurt I have caused,” says Johnson.

The girl’s mother, who is Johnson’s former secretary, was present for the trial. She and her daughter now live in North Carolina. However, the mother still remains married to Johnson.

Johnson is required to report to the Racine County jail on Saturday, June 14, the day before Father’s Day.

NEWS SOURCE: Forbes | VIDEO SOURCE: News Inc.