Bryan Betancur of Silver Spring was found guilty Wednesday in D.C. Superior Court of assaulting a woman while riding Metro earlier this year, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Betancur was found guilty of one count of simple assault following a bench trial on Aug. 12. He remained detained pending sentencing, which was scheduled for Aug. 13 at 2 p.m.
According to evidence presented by prosecutors, Betancur was riding a Metro train at the NoMa-Gallaudet U station on Feb. 28 when he recorded himself stroking a woman’s hair. Prosecutors said he posted the video to his X account seconds later.
Betancur was arrested March 12 and initially released under conditions that included an order to stay away from Metro. He was later rearrested on unrelated charges and held pending trial.
“Today’s verdict underscores our commitment to protecting the safety and dignity of every passenger who relies on our public transit system,” Pirro said. “No crime is too small when it involves a person’s sense of security.”
The case was investigated by the Metro Transit Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dilan Patel.
