FBI agents arrested Kelvin Powell, an employee of the D.C. Department of Juvenile Rehabilitation Services, on charges of sexually abusing a juvenile in custody, the Justice Department announced Friday.
Powell, 61, is accused of sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact with a minor in his care.
Four of the eight charges involve sexual abuse of a room, and four of abusive sexual contact. According to the DOJ, each count of sexual abuse in a room carries a maximum possible penalty of 15 years in prison, and each count of abusive sexual contact carries a maximum possible penalty of two years in prison.
Powell allegedly abused the teenage girl between December 2021 and February 2022, according to a copy of the federal indictment obtained by WTOP. The girl lived at the facility where Powell worked. According to the indictment, that facility was the Juvenile Services Center, which is a detention center located on Olivet Road NE in Washington, DC.
The alleged abuse occurred when Powell accompanied the teenager to make phone calls obtained based on “good behavior,” WTOP reported last March. The abuse began with Powell saying inappropriate things to the teenager, which eventually progressed to touching, groping and more.
The girl initially told police after she started having nightmares about Powell breaking into her cell.
WARNING: The following paragraph contains a graphic description of the abuse taken directly from court documents.
The alleged abuse involved Powell penetrating the teen’s vulva with his penis, making contact between his penis and the teen’s mouth, making contact between his mouth and the teen’s anus, touching intentionally touching the adolescent’s body with his genitals, intentionally touching the adolescent’s genitals with his hand. , touching the teenager’s chest with his hand, and touching the teenager’s buttocks with his hand.
Surveillance footage corroborated the teenager’s reports, WTOP reported. Powell, who denied doing anything inappropriate in March, said he had “no recollection” of the incidents when the footage was shown. He also said at the time that once, the girl initiated the kiss.
The DC Department of Juvenile Rehabilitation Services is the District of Columbia government agency responsible for the supervision, custody, and care of youth arrested while they are pending criminal charges.
According to the agency’s website, it provides “comprehensive support services to engaged youth [its] secure facilities and within the community.” The agency has three locations in the District and one in nearby Laurel, Maryland.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington field office and remains ongoing. Officials encourage anyone with additional information about similar conduct involving Powell to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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