Sex Assault Sentencing: 6 Years for Homeless Woman Attack

D.C. Man Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting Homeless Woman

A 65-year-old Washington, D.C. man has been sentenced to six years in prison for sexually assaulting a homeless woman in a Northwest alley, according to U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips.

Ernest L. Williams, 65, was found guilty in February 2016 of assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse, following a trial before the Honorable Milton C. Lee in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Williams was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison, but suspended all but six years on the condition that he successfully complete five years of supervised probation. Williams also must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

According to the government’s evidence, Williams and the victim were both homeless and staying at a park on North Capitol Street. On Oct. 10, 2014, both had been drinking during the day and the victim became hungry. That night, Williams offered to go with her to a local carry-out to get some food.

However, on the walk, he made an excuse to cut through an alley off the unit block of Florida Avenue NW. Once in the alley, he pinned her against a fence and started sexually assaulting her. She screamed “help” and rape” repeatedly and tried to fight back, but he overpowered her. He hit her in the face, sexually assaulted her on the ground.

A woman in a nearby house heard the screams and called the police. When officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrived, Williams was on top of the victim. He was arrested and has been in custody ever since.

U.S. Attorney Phillips commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and those who worked on the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Cook and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Miranda.