Man Pleads Guilty To Sexually Assaulting Another Man In Hillcrest

SAN DIEGO, CA — A man arrested last summer on suspicion of sexually assaulting another man in Hillcrest pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony sex crime count.

Michael William Howard, 41, will be sentenced to eight years in state prison and required to register as a sex offender for the July 13, 2025, attack, according to court records.

At the time of his arrest, San Diego police said its special events team on duty in Balboa Park during last year's San Diego Pride Festival spotted Howard walking in the area and took him into custody. Police said he "matched the description of a wanted violent sexual predator who had been targeting the LGBTQ+ community" and "was wanted in connection with multiple cases involving the sexual assault of men in the Hillcrest area."

The crime Howard pleaded guilty to on Wednesday pertains to one victim and court records do not indicate he is facing any other criminal cases in San Diego County.

Howard remains in custody without bail and is slated to be sentenced later this month.

— City News Service