Past case: Man sentenced in slaying of girlfriend

A 28-year-old man was sentenced Jan. 16, 2009, to state prison for a 2007 murder in Leimert Park, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Damiean Johnson was sentenced to 80 years to life for murdering his girlfriend and kidnapping her 5-year-old daughter.

On June 25, 2008, after deliberating for about a day, jurors convicted Johnson on one count of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping.

Sophia Elaine Broussard, 38, was found stabbed to death Sept. 8, 2007, in the 2800 block of West 42nd Street in Leimert Park, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Broussard's body was found by her 20-year-old son in the bathroom of the apartment they shared with her daughter and Johnson.

Johnson fled the scene of the crime, taking Broussard's daughter with him. The child was quickly located unharmed at his mother's home in Palmdale.

Johnson was arrested later that day at a football game in San Bernardino County, according to LAPD officials.

-- Maloy Moore

This is an update to an older Homicide Report entry. The Times is committed to reporting and updating past filings.