Judge Finds Probable Cause In Sex Abuse Case

By Azziah Hunter [former] - October 20, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault | Suspects |

During an Oct. 19 preliminary hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee found probable cause in a sex abuse case, ruling that evidence against the defendant is sufficient for a Grand Jury. 

The defendant was arrested and charged with first-degree child sex abuse on Oct. 5. At the time of the offense, the victim was in 10th grade and about 15 years old. According to court documents, the abuse stopped when the victim was 17 years old. 

Defense attorney Errin Scialpi argued that the complainant has told at least one lie. He also said there are several things that the detective did not follow up on, including interviewing the girls the defendant was allegedly inappropriate with. There were also deleted text messages from the complainant’s phone that the detective did not try to recover. 

Scialpi also argued that the witness in the case never liked the defendant even though he has been part of the family for over 20 years.

In June of 2020 a victim of sexual abuse told a family member that she was being sexually abused by a another family member. However, it was not until August of 2021, that law enforcement began to investigate this allegation. 

According to court documents, the complainant had a room at the defendant’s house in which the victim often stayed. She told detectives that she was afraid to speak up about what was happening because she was scared to get beat up.

Counsel also mentioned that the defendant was banned from Eastern High School, located in Northeast DC, for allegedly being inappropriate with underage girls. 

The defendant is currently released from jail and the prosecution requested a stay away from the victim and that he should be placed under the high intensity supervision program (HISP). 

Judge Lee scheduled a status hearing for June 30 to allow the prosecution to work on securing an indictment in the case.