Washington D.C. Man to Serve 28 Years in Prison for North Rosslyn Sex

Published on February 11, 2019

ARLINGTON, Va. — Richard Allen Lowe, 25, of Washington D.C. was sentenced on Friday, February 8, 2019, in the Arlington County Circuit Court for his role in a 2017 sexual assault in North Rosslyn. Judge Louise DiMatteo sentenced the defendant to five years with four suspended for the charge of Unlawful Wounding, ten years with eight suspended for the charge of Abduction, fifteen years with five suspended for the charge of Burglary and fifty years with thirty-five suspended for the charge of Sexual Penetration. The four sentences will run consecutively with an active penitentiary sentence of twenty-eight years with twenty years of supervised probation upon release.

Theophani K. Stamos, Arlington County Commonwealth's Attorney and M. Jay Farr, Arlington County's Chief of Police made the announcement following the court appearance.

At approximately 9:45 a.m. on May 7, 2017, Arlington County Police responded to the report of an unknown male suspect who entered a residential building and began knocking on various apartment doors claiming to be a maintenance worker. Once the female victim opened her door, a physical struggle ensued between the victim and the suspect. During the attack, the suspect sexually assaulted the victim before fleeing the scene on foot.

Arlington County Police detectives conducted an intensive investigation including the review of crime scene evidence, witness interviews and laboratory results. The review resulted in additional information that led detectives to identify Richard Allen Lowe as a possible suspect. Forensic evidence and thorough investigative efforts linked the suspect to the incident. The suspect was arrested in Washington D.C. on February 22, 2018 with assistance by the Metropolitan Police Department and subsequently extradited to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Arlington County Chief M. Jay Farr said, "The defendant preyed upon his victim's sense of safety by posing as someone she should trust in her own home. While nothing can completely restore her sense of security, our community is safer today because of the significant sentences imposed by the court on a violent offender."

"The sentence handed down by Judge Louise DiMatteo takes a dangerous predator off the streets and puts public safety front and center. The defendant was brought to justice by the dogged work of Arlington County detectives who worked painstakingly to identity Lowe and link him to his crimes.  Hats off too to our prosecution team of Cari Steele and John Lynch and victim specialist Deena Jackson.  These are tireless professionals who represent the best of public service" said Theo Stamos, Commonwealth's Attorney.

This case was investigated by Special Victims Unit Detective P. Pena and prosecuted by Assistant Commonwealth Attorneys' Cari Steele and John Lynch.

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