Michael Hilliard, 65, has been indicted by a D.C. Superior Court grand jury on four felony counts. The charges include two counts of third-degree sexual abuse and two counts of enhanced misdemeanor sexual abuse. These charges stem from an alleged incident involving a nurse at George Washington University Hospital.
U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., along with Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department, announced the indictment. According to charging documents, on September 26, 2024, while a nurse attempted to draw blood from Hilliard in a hospital room, he allegedly grabbed her into a face-to-face bear hug and groped her buttocks and genitalia.
Hilliard has more than three prior convictions for misdemeanor sexual abuse, with his most recent conviction on December 19, 2023. He is currently detained pending competency proceedings.
Hilliard's indictment marks the first use of the new felony charge created under the D.C. Council’s Secure D.C. Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024. This legislation allows repeat offenders with three or more prior misdemeanor sexual abuse convictions to be charged with a felony for similar conduct.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Houck.
An indictment is an allegation only; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.