Man who committed sodomy in mall gets probation
A 50-year old Alexandria man pleaded no contest Wednesday in Prince William Circuit Court to the charge of aggravated sexual battery of a 14-year old boy in a Potomac Mills bathroom.
Girma Genemo, of 328 South Whitting St., was sentenced to 12 months in county jail with 12 months suspended, as recommended by Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jerrold J. Negin. The suspension of jail time is contingent upon Genemo’s successful completion of two years of probation, completion of a sex offender’s evaluation and treatment. During his probation, Genemo is barred from the Woodbridge mall and allowed no unsupervised contact with minors.
The misdemeanor sexual battery charge is amended from an earlier charge of unlawful carnal knowledge. This was the second time charges have been changed in this case.
The boy, who lives in Fayetteville, N.C., told police shortly after the Feb. 4 incident that Genemo had pulled him into the Neighborhood 5 bathroom as the teen was leaving the mall. Based on that information, police charged Genemo with abduction and forcible sodomy. The charges were reduced to unlawful carnal knowledge four days after the incident when police learned the oral sex was consensual.
The teen was subsequently charged with filing a false police report. He was arraigned in Prince William Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on that charge March 1 and will receive the court’s final disposition Feb. 28.
Staff writer Maria Hegstad can be reached at (703) 368-3101, Ext. 121.