A man from Washington, D.C., was found guilty of breaking into a Maryland residence and sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl he discovered sleeping in her bedroom.
For the incident on November 29, 2021, Joshua Grice, age 30, was found guilty of first-degree rape and first-degree burglary-home invasion. Grice faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years and the possibility of a life sentence. September is scheduled for the sentencing hearing.
The 9-year-old girl was sleeping in her bed in a Takoma Park, Maryland home when she awoke to find a man dressed in all black, donning a black hat and a black face mask sitting on top of her.
Fox 5 DC reports that he sexually assaulted the victim before fleeing through an open window in the living room.
Related Posts
The victim awoke her sister, who was also a minor and sleeping in the adjacent bed. The girl’s sibling observed the suspect standing outside the open window and peering into the apartment from the living room.
After noticing the victim’s sister, the suspect fled the area. The police then responded to the scene and established a perimeter, but the suspect was not located.
In May 2022, the Montgomery County Crime Lab matched Grice with a DNA sample extracted from the victim’s undergarments.
“This violent offender preyed on a young, innocent child,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy. “Justice is being served thanks to the efforts of the Montgomery County Crime Lab, the Montgomery County Police, and our trial team. Additionally, we would like to commemorate the Tree House Child Advocacy Center for its impactful work with vulnerable victims.”
