District Man Pleads Guilty To Felony Charges In Attempted Sexual Assault-Defendant Lured Victim Into His Car By Offering A Ride Home-

     WASHINGTON – Ronnie Moore, 48, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to charges stemming from an incident last year in which he lured a woman into his car and then tried to sexually assault her, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.

     Moore pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to charges of assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse and felony threats.  The Honorable Ronna L. Beck scheduled sentencing for July 19, 2013.  As a result of the plea, Moore must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

     According to the government’s evidence, on March 10, 2012, at about 10 a.m., Moore was driving a four-door blue car at the intersection of Branch and Pennsylvania Avenues SE.  The victim, then 19, was standing at a bus stop at that location, and Moore pulled up and offered the victim a ride.  Moore said that he knew the victim’s mother, who he mentioned by name, and the victim accepted the ride. 

     Once inside his vehicle, Moore began complimenting the victim on her looks and asked her if she would be willing to have sex for money.  When the victim refused, Moore threatened to kill her if she did not comply.  The victim then punched Moore in the face and attempted to escape.  Moore struggled to keep her in his car.  The victim was able to escape the car, but left several personal effects in the vehicle.  Moore sped away from the area.

     On June 20, 2012, the victim saw Moore in a checkout line at a supermarket on Alabama Avenue SE. She and a relative confronted Moore, and then reported the sighting to a police officer working at the supermarket.  Moore was then placed under arrest. 

     In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work performed by those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sex Crime Investigations Division.  He also praised those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim Witness Advocate Lesley Richardson, Paralegal D’Yvonne Key, and Information Technology Specialist Kimberly Smith.  Finally, he commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mervin A. Bourne, Jr. and Jeff T. Cook, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.