A Virginia man who sexually abused a 17-year-old student while teaching at a famous D.C. arts school has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison.
Mark Williams, 59, was sentenced on Friday in Washington, DC. Superior Court, ending a judicial drama in which the defendant fled the country in an unsuccessful bid to avoid prosecution.
The case dates in the spring of 2014 at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. According to evidence submitted by the government, Williams used his position as a teacher to begin a sexual relationship with a pupil during a private, independent study. These interactions occurred in a sealed, windowless basement chamber on the school’s campus.
“Mark Williams groomed and sexually molested an underage student. It took years for the victim to muster the confidence to come forward and reveal the abuse she had undergone. Williams even fled the nation, but justice eventually caught up with him,” said US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “My office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who exploit vulnerable people, particularly children. This punishment is well-deserved.
While the assault occurred more than a decade ago, Williams was not arrested until November 2023. The legal procedures took a new turn earlier this year when Williams failed to arrive for his planned trial on February 2, 2026.
He was later arrested and convicted on February 12 of four counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a secondary education student and four counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a juvenile.
Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan’s punishment included 16 years in jail and 10 years of supervised release. Williams is also have to register as a sex offender for ten years.
The Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office worked together to conduct the investigation. Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in praising the investigators and legal staff, particularly Assistant U.S. Attorneys Callie Hyde and Sarah Roessler, who worked for years to piece together the case and secure the conviction.