Former School Janitor Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge In 2005 Sexual Assault of 12-Year-Old Girl

            WASHINGTON – Mandell L. Whitted, 50, of Capitol Heights, Md., pled guilty today to a felony charge stemming from the sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl, which took place in 2005 while he was a janitor at an elementary school in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced.

            Whitted pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of attempted first-degree child sexual abuse. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for an agreed-upon sentence of five years in prison. Following his release, Whitted will be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years. The Honorable Hiram E. Puig-Lugo scheduled sentencing for Nov. 16, 2017.

            According to a proffer of facts submitted at today’s hearing, Whitted worked in 2005 as a janitor at J.C. Nalle Elementary School, in the 200 block of 50^th Street SE. During the summer between her fifth grade at that school and her sixth grade at another school, the 12-year-old girl worked at J.C. Nalle Elementary on a cleaning crew. Then, in the fall of 2005, she returned to the school to work at an after-school program. In the period between May 2005 through November 2005, according to the proffer, Whitted sexually assaulted the girl on numerous occasions at various locations, including the janitor’s office.

            Whitted was arrested in February 2017, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He has been in custody ever since.

            In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Phillips commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Supervisor Dr. Lorraine Chase, Paralegal Specialist T.J. McPhail, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart D. Allen, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.