District Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison
For Obstruction of Justice, Other Charges
In Sexual Assault Against His Ex-Girlfriend
- Defendant Called Victim From Jail in Hopes of Keeping Her Away From Court -

     WASHINGTON - Sean Spruell, 24, of Beltsville, Maryland, has been sentenced to 65 months in prison on felony charges stemming from a sexual assault on his ex-girlfriend, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

     Spruell pled guilty in August 2011 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to charges of obstruction of justice, felony contempt, misdemeanor sexual abuse, and interfering with a report to law enforcement. He was sentenced on November 16, 2011, by the Honorable Jennifer Anderson. Following completion of his prison term, Spruell will be placed on three years of supervised release.

     According to the government’s evidence, on June 3, 2010, at approximately 12:20 a.m., Spruell was at his ex-girlfriend’s apartment in Southeast Washington. She was asleep in her bedroom when Spruell approached her and demanded sex. When she refused, Spruell climbed on top of her and forced his hands between her thighs while grabbing her throat with his other hand.

     Spruell’s ex-girlfriend managed to escape to the living room and pick up the phone to dial 911. But Spruell then ripped the phone from the wall and threw it into the kitchen before attacking and choking her again. The victim escaped with her children and called the police, and Spruell subsequently was arrested.

     On September 24, 2010, Spruell was in jail pending his next court date, and charged with multiple offenses related to the physical assault on his ex-girlfriend. He called the victim from the D.C. Jail. He told her that she did not have to come to court and directed her not to open her door when law enforcement tried to serve her with a subpoena.

     On May 16, 2011, Spruell was ordered by the Court to stay away from the victim. On May 31, 2011, he nonetheless approached her at a bus stop, rode the bus with her, and spoke to her about the pending criminal court matter.

     In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the efforts of Metropolitan Police Department Detective Timothy Francis, as well as Officers Stephen Murphy, Andre Kimvalkani, and William Stokes of the Seventh District, who investigated the case. He also expressed appreciation to Shauna Moore, the Domestic Violence Advocate who worked with the victim in this case. Finally, U.S. Attorney Machen expressed his appreciation to Paralegal Jason Manuel and Legal Assistant Charmonique Price, who prepared the case for indictment, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Noreen McCarthy who assisted in indicting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mervin A. Bourne, Jr., who indicted and prosecuted the case.

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