Mark Williams, a 59-year-old resident of Virginia, was convicted by a jury on February 12, 2026, for four counts each of first-degree sexual abuse of a secondary education student and first-degree sexual abuse of a minor. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Williams served as the victim’s high school teacher at Duke Ellington School for the Arts in 2014 when the offenses occurred. According to evidence presented during the trial in Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Williams began an independent study with a 17-year-old student that met in a locked and windowless room located in the school’s basement. Prosecutors stated that during this period, Williams initiated a romantic and sexual relationship with the student and engaged in sexual acts on campus.
The verdict followed a trial presided over by Judge Michael Ryan. Sentencing is set for April 17, 2026. Williams remains held without bond until sentencing.
Jeffery W. Carroll, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in announcing the outcome. Both officials recognized members of MPD who investigated the case as well as several individuals from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: Paralegal Specialist Tiffany Jones, Investigative Analyst Lucas Jetson, and Victim Witness Coordinators Guisela Castillo and Katina Adams.
They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Callie Hyde and Sarah Roessler for their roles investigating and prosecuting the case, along with former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Platt for his assistance during the investigation.
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