He had prior convictions in four separate cases across Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and D.C.
SILVER SPRING, Md. — A Silver Spring man with a history of sexually assaulting women on public transit has been sentenced to over 26 years in prison.
On Friday, the Montgomery County Circuit Court sentenced 45-year-old Kokouvi Apetoh after he pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree assault and admitted to violating his probation for a second time in a previous Metrobus groping case.
Apetoh’s latest crimes took place on Jan. 7 and March 22, 2023. In both instances, he boarded a Metrobus, sat behind an unfamiliar woman, and reached between the seats to grope her. After the first incident, the victim reported the assault, but Apetoh fled before police arrived. In March, he targeted the same woman again. This time, she managed to take a photo of him before he escaped, which ultimately led to his arrest.
Apetoh had previously been convicted in four separate cases involving assaults on women using public transportation in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and D.C. As a registered sex offender, his repeated offenses led the judge to declare this the “end of the road” for him. He was sentenced to the maximum penalty: two consecutive 10-year terms for second-degree assault, plus an additional six and a half years for probation violations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Jodie Mount.
“This defendant is a serial sexual offender who deliberately preyed on innocent women commuting to and from work. Our priority is to ensure public transportation remains safe for everyone. We commend Judge Berry for recognizing the severity of the defendant’s actions and delivering the maximum sentence,” Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy stated.
