Judge Finds Probable Cause in Child Sex Abuse Case

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During an Aug. 4 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt found probable cause in a 2020 child sex abuse case.

The defendant is charged second-degree child sex abuse for allegedly engaging in sexual contact with his step-daughter on the 900 block of Euclid Street, NW from late 2019 to March 2020. The defendant was 31 years old at the time and the victim was 10 years old.

The events were reported to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Youth and Family Services Division by the victim’s school teacher after the victim relayed the events to her. The defendant was arrested on March 13, 2020, and immediately released with 24-hour GPS monitoring. The defendant was also issued a stay-away order from the victim and her mother.

During the Thursday hearing, defense attorney Joseph Yarbough argued that the victim was making a false-allegation because of the inconsistencies in her testimonies to the detective.

During the initial interview, the victim said she and the defendant were both fully clothed. However, during a later interview, she claimed that the defendant’s underwear was down, but her underwear was on.

“I don’t think you can credit anything the victim says,” Yarbough told the court. “This story was just wildly different every time it was told.”

However, during the prosecution’s redirect, the lead detective of the case said that victims of a younger age are often reluctant to tell all parts of the story at once.

The lead detective, who has been working for the MPD’s Youth and Family services division for 8 years, said that different information trickling in slowly is a common theme in other child sex abuse cases she has worked.

“The court understands why the victim embellished or mistold parts of her story,” Judge Brandt said. “The court can find that probable cause has been satisfied.”

The next hearing is scheduled for March 6, 2023.