District Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing 7-Year-Old Girl Child Disclosed What Took Place to Mother

            WASHINGTON – A 55-year-old man from Washington, D.C. pled guilty today to a felony charge for sexually abusing a seven-year old girl in May 2014, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. 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 to one count of second-degree child sexual abuse, in an Alford plea. Under such a plea, the defendant does not admit the allegations but agrees that the government has enough evidence to secure a conviction. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24, 2015 by the Honorable Milton C. Lee. The defendant faces up to 10 years in prison. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

            According to the government’s factual proffer at today’s plea hearing, the defendant molested the girl, a relative, on May 24, 2014, in a home in Southeast Washington. The girl told her mother what happened, and DNA evidence later confirmed the girl’s allegations.

            In announcing today’s plea, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Division. He also expressed appreciation for the work of the child abuse experts at the Child and Adolescent Protection Center at Children’s National Medical Center, as well as the Children’s Advocacy Center, which conducted the child forensic interview and provided other critical services to the victim. U.S. Attorney Machen acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist D’Yvonne Key and Victim/Witness Advocate Lezlie Richardson. Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Taylor, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.

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