Man Sentenced To Prison For Hillcrest Sexual Assault

SAN DIEGO, CA — A man who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting another man in Hillcrest was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in state prison.

Michael William Howard, 41, must also register as a sex offender for the July 13, 2025, attack.

At the time of his arrest, the San Diego Police Department 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."

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

— City News Service