A Washington, D.C. man has been handed a 40-month prison sentence following a series of disturbing crimes that included the sexual abuse of three deaf individuals, one of them a child and another a minor. John'Ta Price, 29, had pleaded guilty to second-degree child sexual abuse, attempted stalking, and attempted blackmail. His punishment was determined by Superior Court Judge Robert Okun last Friday, with the news confirmed by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves.
As reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Price's crimes unfolded over five years. In one instance, between March 1, 2015, and February 20, 2020, Price relentlessly pursued the first victim, who was aged 13 to 18, during the period of his abuse. Despite the victim's repeated protests, Price not only sent nude videos and pictures but also made unwanted physical contact with her.
The narrative of abuse continues with a second victim who was blackmailed by Price in or around November 2021. Threatened with the public exposure of nude pictures, the victim was coerced into performing sexual acts. The U.S. Attorney’s Office indicates Price met his youngest victim, a 14-year-old, at Union Station on October 21, 2023. After convincing the child to enter his vehicle, he requested and received sexual acts from the minor.
Arrested on December 1, 2023, Price found himself in a legal snare that culminated with the August sentencing. Not only will he serve consecutive sentences for each offense, amounting to 40 months in prison, but upon release, he will also face five years of probation and a decade on the sex offender registry. Having been a student at Gallaudet University at the time of his arrest, the case has been a particularly sensitive matter, compelling commentary from the deaf community and advocates alike.
The diligence of the Metropolitan Police Department in investigating the offenses was praised by U.S. Attorney Graves, whose office worked to see the prosecution through. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marco Crocetti of the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Unit was specially acknowledged for his role in the case against Price.
