Former robber turned Georgetown law educator convicted of domestic abuse. A Georgetown University law educator who served 11 years in incarceration for bank robbery prior to becoming a lawyer was found guilty on Friday of criminal offenses related to a September 2023 domestic violence incident, which followed years of mistreatment.
Shon Hopwood, 50, was determined guilty by a District of Columbia Superior Court jury on three counts of simple assault, five counts of contempt, and two counts of obstructing justice, federal prosecutors in Washington stated in a press release on Friday.
“A D. C. jury is insisting on accountability from the perpetrator who not only assaulted his spouse but was also part of the faculty at Georgetown Law instructing on criminal law,” U. S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro expressed in a statement following the verdict announcement. “This D. C. jury wasn’t intimidated to demand accountability regardless of the defendant’s identity. ”
According to a press release from the U. S. Attorney’s Office, on Sept. 21, 2023, Hopwood and his spouse engaged in a dispute in front of their children. When she attempted to retrieve her phone and handbag from their bedroom, he purportedly attacked her, pushing and throwing her into the kitchen on multiple occasions.
His spouse sustained numerous injuries from the attack, including bruises.
Three days later, D. C. police became aware of the assault during a welfare check. Hopwood instructed his wife to remain in the basement and coached their children to mislead authorities about her whereabouts during the check, as reported by the news statement. Subsequently, Hopwood fled from the residence upon hearing on an officer’s radio that the police had located his wife.
Following an investigation, D. C. police and the Attorney’s Office revealed that Hopwood had a history of persistent emotional and physical domestic abuse towards his wife, extending over several years. The defendant was also charged with, and found guilty of, assaulting the victim in April 2023 in addition to the September 2023 episode.
Hopwood’s trial was scheduled to commence in early June, but his wife and their daughter did not appear in court despite a subpoena. Authorities reported that they discovered Hopwood had been communicating with his wife and exerting pressure on her not to testify in his trial, thereby violating a stay-away order.
Hopwood was prominently featured in the 2019 “60 Minutes” segment, “Meet a Convicted Felon Who Became a Georgetown Law Professor. ”
The news program characterized him as “arguably the most successful jailhouse lawyer ever — having had one of his cases argued before the U. S. Supreme Court while serving a 12-year sentence for armed bank robbery. ”
As of Saturday, Hopwood continued to be listed as an associate professor of law on the Georgetown Law School website.
In a statement to WTOP, a spokesperson from the law school remarked, “Domestic violence is horrific and contrary to our values as an institution. Shon Hopwood remains on leave from his position as professor, and we will review the situation and adhere to all pertinent personnel procedures. ”
The representative stated that Georgetown Law honors the judicial system and the jury’s verdict. “Aside from that, we are unable to provide commentary on employment issues. ” Hopwood’s sentencing is set for September 18, 2025.
