Parties in Sex Abuse Case Prepare for April Trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 9, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault | Suspects | Victims |

A sex abuse case is set to go to trial in April.

The defendant is charged with two counts of first-degree sex abuse, assault with intent to commit first-degree sex abuse, kidnapping, first-degree burglary and robbery. He is accused of breaking into a woman’s ground-floor apartment one morning in 2010 and sexually assaulting her, according to court documents. He is also accused of stealing the woman’s cell phone.

The defendant waived his right to a speedy jury trial during the Nov. 5 hearing. DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled jury selection to begin on April 11. The prosecution anticipates needing about three days to present their case.

Defense attorney Thomas Healy was appointed to represent the defendant last September. Judge McKenna agreed to sign an order allowing Michelle Lockard to assist Healy as the second chair.

Parties will reconvene for a trial readiness hearing on Feb. 4. Any motions parties may file are due on Dec. 20, with responses due on Jan. 21.

The defendant is also awaiting sentencing in another case, in which he was convicted by a jury of kidnapping and first-degree sex abuse in March 2020. The case stems from a 2007 home invasion.

According to a Department of Justice press release citing the prosecution’s evidence, the victim was in her Northwest, DC apartment when she awoke to the defendant sleeping in her bedroom. The defendant then sexually assaulted her, stole her phone and fled, according to the press release. The press release also stated that he was previously convicted in connection with another home invasion sexual assault out of Arlington County, Va.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29.