Matthew M. Graves U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
Anthony Garner, a 37-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for sexually assaulting a woman on a Metro train traveling from Maryland to D.C. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr.
Garner pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual abuse on July 10, 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In addition to his prison term, Judge Errol Arthur ordered Garner to register as a sex offender for ten years and complete three years of supervised release.
The incident occurred on April 16, 2023. According to evidence presented by the government, law enforcement officers responded at approximately 9:30 a.m. to Gallery Place Metro station following reports of a sexual assault on a female passenger. The victim had boarded the green line train at Suitland station when Garner sat across from her before moving next to her with his penis exposed.
When other passengers were alerted by the victim's motions indicating that Garner was masturbating, he moved away but returned later and continued his actions as the train approached L’Enfant Plaza Metro station. He blocked the victim and another female passenger from leaving, stating, “You can get off, but she isn’t going anywhere. You’re not going anywhere until I bust a nut.” Although he allowed one passenger to leave, he restrained the victim and continued his assault.
At Fort Totten metro station, despite attempts by other passengers to intervene and claims by Garner that the victim was "his lady," he ejaculated on her before they both exited at the next stop where she reported the incident. Garner attempted to flee but was apprehended by MTPD officers at Gallery Place Metro after being identified by the victim.
U.S. Attorney Martin praised those involved in investigating and prosecuting this case including members of both Metropolitan Transit Police Department and Metropolitan Police Department as well as Victim Advocate Tracey Hawkins along with Assistant U.S Attorneys Richard Kelley and Sarah Folse who led efforts in court proceedings.
