Anthony Garner, a 37-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for sexually assaulting a woman on a Metro train. The incident occurred in April 2023 while the train was traveling from Maryland to D.C. U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. announced the sentencing.
Garner entered a guilty plea on July 10, 2024, at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of third-degree sexual abuse. In addition to his prison term, Judge Errol Arthur mandated that Garner register as a sex offender for ten years and undergo three years of supervised release.
The case evidence presented by the government detailed that on April 16, 2023, around 9:30 a.m., law enforcement responded to an incident at Gallery Place Metro station involving the sexual assault of a female passenger. The victim recounted boarding the green line train at Suitland station where Garner sat across from her before moving next to her with his genitals exposed.
When other passengers were alerted by the victim's motions indicating Garner's inappropriate behavior, he moved away but returned later and continued his actions as they approached L’Enfant Plaza Metro station. He blocked both the victim and another female passenger when they attempted to leave their seats, telling them "You can get off, but she isn’t going anywhere."
As events unfolded and more passengers noticed what was happening, Garner falsely claimed that the victim was his partner. At Fort Totten metro station, he again prevented her from leaving and ejaculated on her before they both exited at the next stop where she reported him to authorities.
Metro Transit Police Department officers apprehended Garner shortly after at Gallery Place Metro station following identification by the victim.
U.S. Attorney Martin praised those involved in investigating and prosecuting this case including personnel from both Metropolitan Transit Police Department and Metropolitan Police Department as well as Victim Advocate Tracey Hawkins along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Kelley and Sarah Folse.