A D.C. Superior Court judge found a Maryland man guilty on Wednesday of a single count of simple assault after he surreptitiously fondled a woman’s hair on a Washington Metro train and posted video of the incident to social media. Bryan Betancur, of Silver Spring, received the verdict following a non-jury trial in which prosecutors presented five witnesses and 30 exhibits, while the defense presented no evidence, according to court records cited by local news reports (WJLA).
The conviction stems from an incident in late February on the Metro’s Red Line, where authorities say Betancur sat behind female passengers, recorded them without their knowledge, and touched them. Investigators with the Metro Transit Police arrested Betancur in March after examining the footage. During the Wednesday proceedings, the judge described the behavior plainly, stating from the bench, “It’s just a creepy thing to do.”
The victim identified in the Red Line video testified during the trial about the lingering psychological toll of the assault. “I think about this video every single day. I think about this video every time I get on the Metro, which is twice every single day,” she told the court. She described feeling paranoid, exposed, and deeply unsettled upon discovering that someone had touched her and broadcast the encounter online without her consent.
Simple assault is a misdemeanor offense under District of Columbia law carrying a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail and a potential $1,000 fine. Prosecutors have indicated they will argue for additional jail time during the upcoming sentencing hearing, rather than crediting Betancur for time already served behind bars.
Custody Status and Upcoming Sentencing
Betancur’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m. in D.C. Superior Court. Although he was initially released following his March arrest, he has remained in custody since April after a judge ordered him held over an alleged bail violation involving a separate stalking charge (WJLA).
Court documents from the spring revealed that Betancur allegedly harassed and stalked a woman at a pop-up event in Northwest Washington before tracking her to a protest near the U.S. Supreme Court. Because of those ongoing legal matters, prosecutors maintain that he has already accumulated 125 days in custody, though they intend to push for a stiffer penalty during Thursday’s sentencing.
Pending Charges Across Jurisdictions
Beyond the D.C. conviction and the active stalking case in the District, Betancur faces additional legal exposure in neighboring Virginia. Authorities in Arlington County have charged him with assault and battery stemming from a nearly identical incident (WJLA).
According to investigators, the Arlington charge involves allegations that Betancur livestreamed himself fondling the hair of a different female passenger on a transit train in that jurisdiction. Federal records also show that Betancur previously pleaded guilty to his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, where the FBI identified him as a self-professed white supremacist photographed holding a Confederate flag while on probation for prior burglary charges.
The outcome of Thursday’s 2 p.m. sentencing hearing will determine whether Betancur receives additional jail time for the Red Line assault before he answers to pending charges in Arlington County and D.C. Superior Court.