Judge Sentences 27 Year Old to More than 5 Years in Prison for Sex Abuse

By Azziah Hunter [former] - September 27, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault | Suspects | Victims |

A 27-year-old man was sentenced at the DC Superior Court Sept. 21 for sexually abusing a woman in her apartment.

Artez Powell was convicted of fourth-degree sexual abuse and first-degree burglary in connection to sexually abusing a tenant on the fourth floor of an apartment building located on the 1900 block of C Street, SE. He was initially charged with two counts of burglary and one count of fourth-degree sexual abuse.

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun sentenced Powell to 68 months for first-degree burglary and 24 months for fourth-degree sexual abuse. The terms are concurrent.

Powell also has to register as a sex offender for 10 years. Upon release, he must serve 5 years of supervised probation for the burglary charge and 3 years of supervised probation for the sexual abuse charge.

The defendant is also required to pay $200 to the fund for the Victims of Violent Crime Act. The fund is slated to be paid from Powell’s prison pay, according to court documents.

According to court documents, on March 2, the victim was asleep when she felt someone touching her. She assumed it was her cat that slept with her, but when she woke up it was a man rubbing her body. The man ran off with two of her credit cards. 

“I was not someone who was easily broken. I am now broken,” the victim stated in her impact statement, which was read by her attorney. “I couldn’t even get out of bed. I moved out of the apartment because I was too scared to walk the halls. I don’t know how to describe myself anymore. I am depressed, anxious, I have additional locks on my doors. I still cry. I am embarrassed and lost.”

The victim asked that Powell receive the maximum sentence of 70 months.

Powell’s defense attorney said he endured a lot of trauma from his childhood.

He was sexually abused by a male in his family and he was abandoned by his mother, Kevin Mosley, Powell’s defense attorney said. He lost his uncle who was a father figure to him. He has no one to help him, leaving his trauma left untreated.

“Trauma is real,” Mosley said. Powell’s trauma and substance abuse have affected his choices.

Judge Okun told Powell that he will still be young when he is released and wished him the best.