Siblings plead guilty to attacking federal prosecutor in DC

Two siblings pleaded guilty to attacking a federal prosecutor and the daughter of a murder victim outside a Washington, D.C., courthouse.

“Our criminal justice system cannot tolerate violence against crime victims or those entrusted with enforcing our laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski in a statement from the Department of Justice on Wednesday.

“Today’s guilty pleas reinforce the Department of Justice’s steadfast commitment to prosecuting anyone who engages in vindictive attacks against victims of crime or federal officials,” he said.

{mosads}Maurice Hight pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault on a federal official. His sister, Tiera Hight, pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor assault on a federal official and one count of misdemeanor assault in violation of the D.C. code.

According to authorities, the Hights left the courthouse in April after their brother was found guilty of murder. The two waited for the murder victim’s daughter and the federal prosecutor in the case and then confronted them outside the courthouse.

They circled the two women. Tiera Hight spit on and then attacked the daughter. Maurice Hight joined in the attack on the prosecutor, when she tried to intervene, knocking her down and punching her in the face.

Two deputy U.S. Marshals who were nearby arrested Maurice Hight, who then spit in the face of one of the marshals.