Guilty plea in D.C. Craigslist sex attacks

A 26-year-old District man pleaded guilty Friday to two sexual assaults of women he met through Craigslist, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Brandon B. Petty was convicted on one count of assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse and one count of attempted first-degree sexual abuse while armed before Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz. Both attacks took place at at hotels near Dupont Circle.

Petty faces maximum prison terms of 15 and 30 years for each count, respectively. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 28.

Prosecutors alleged Petty attacked one victim on Sept. 8, 2009, at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel and another April 21 at the Hilton Washington Hotel. He contacted each woman through Craigslist ads for adult services, authorities said.

Both victims helped police track down Petty, the first by following him and the second by providing his cell phone number and DNA evidence and looking through police photographs, according to authorities.

-- Spencer S. Hsu