Parties Are Ready to Bring Sex Assault Case to Trial

By Isabelle Chiu [former] , Gabe Solomon [former] - July 14, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault | Suspects |

On July 14, counsel told DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan they were prepared to take a sex assault case to trial. 

The defendant is charged with first-degree burglary and second-degree sex abuse for allegedly entering the victim’s apartment on Jan. 23 and sexually assaulting her while she was asleep on the 900 block of Florida Avenue, NW. 

“The defendant followed the complainant and her friend to their apartment,” the prosecutor told Judge Raffinan. “And the complainant woke up to the defendant sexually assaulting her.”

During the hearing, the prosecutor told Judge Raffinan that DNA from a sex assault kit and the defendant matched. The prosecutor also said all DNA evidence had been turned over to the defense. 

The defendant chose to waive his right to conduct independent testing. 

An initial plea was offered on Feb. 23, but defense attorney Dennis Boyle told Judge Raffinan the defendant had no intention of accepting any plea offers. 

Both parties told Judge Raffinan their cases will be ready by the trial date set for Aug. 30. The prosecution stated their case would take two to three days, with about half a day for rebuttal. The prosecution plans on calling 8-13 witnesses.

Boyle said he anticipated the defense’s case to last about three hours and planned to call three to four witnesses.

The next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 23.