Defendant Was Arrested by U.S. Marshals Service in New York City
WASHINGTON - A 34-year-old man from Washington, D.C. pled guilty today to a charge of first-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances for sexually abusing his 13-year-old daughter, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced.
The defendant, who is not identified here to protect the privacy of the victim, pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for a prison sentence between 9 ½ and 23 years. It also requires the defendant to register as a sex offender for 10 years upon his release. The Honorable Jennifer Anderson scheduled sentencing for Jan. 29, 2016.
According to the government’s evidence, the abuse occurred between July 19 and July 27, 2014 in Southeast Washington. The defendant, who is the victim’s father, was watching television with her in the defendant’s room. The defendant removed the victim’s pants and underwear, and sexually assaulted her. Afterwards, he apologized to the victim, promising that he wouldn’t sexually abuse her again.
The defendant, who left the Washington, D.C. area, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in New York City on Sept. 10, 2015. He admitted having had sex with the victim. He also wrote the victim an apology letter, asking her to forgive him.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Phillips commended the work of the detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Investigations Division and of the Deputy U.S. Marshals based in New York. He also commended the efforts of staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Child Forensic Interview Specialists Tracy Owusu and Karen Giannakoulias; Victim/Witness Advocate Lezlie Richardson; Paralegal Specialist Joyce Arthur, and Assistant U.S. Attorney John L. Hill, who is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
