District Man Pleads Guilty To Sexual Abuse, Admits Accosting 10-Year-Old And 12-Year-Old GirlsSeparate Incidents Took Place In 2012

     WASHINGTON – David Gantt, 29, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to charges stemming from his sexual abuse of two girls in separate incidents during the summer of 2012, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced. 

     Gantt pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of attempted second-degree child sexual abuse and one count of misdemeanor sexual abuse.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable Robert E. Morin on April 18, 2014.  He faces up to five-and-a-half years in prison.  He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.

     According to the government’s factual proffer at today’s plea hearing, in July 2012, Gantt molested a 12-year-old girl in the laundry room of an apartment building in Southeast Washington. Approximately one month later, Gantt inappropriately touched a 10-year-old girl who was visiting a friend who lived in Gantt’s apartment.

     In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Division, which investigated the case. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Jason Manuel and Victim/Witness Advocate Veronica Vaughan. Finally, he commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Taylor, who investigated and prosecuted the case.