WASHINGTON - A 20-year-old man, of Washington, D.C., has pled guilty to charges stemming from a sexual assault against a five-year-old relative, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced today.
The defendant, who is not identified here to protect the privacy of the victim, pled guilty on Aug. 30, 2013, to one count each of attempted second-degree child sexual abuse and violating the Bail Reform Act. The Honorable Robert E. Morin scheduled sentencing for Nov. 22, 2013. The defendant faces up to 5 1/2 years in prison and also will be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
According to the government’s evidence, on May 9, 2013, at approximately 8:50 p.m., the defendant was at the home of a relative in Northeast Washington. During this time, the child and her mother were living temporarily with the same relative and were also in the apartment. The child’s mother, who had momentarily left the home, returned to find the defendant under a blanket with her daughter. The child made an immediate report regarding sexual acts the defendant engaged in with her while her mother was gone.
While this case was pending, the court released the defendant, placing him in the high-intensity supervision program on June 14, 2013. After the June court date, the defendant removed his GPS device, and he did not appear in court as scheduled for a hearing on July 15, 2013. He was re-arrested on a bench warrant on July 26, 2013.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Youth Division who were involved in the arrest and investigation of this case. He also expressed his appreciation to Paralegal Specialist D’Yvonne Key, Victim/Witness Advocate Tracey Hawkins, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mervin A. Bourne, Jr., who investigated and prosecuted the case.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
