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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- July 2, 2018
Court
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Homicides
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Post Disposition
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Suspects
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A man who pleaded guilty to murder now blames his attorney for his 31-year sentence.
Per the terms of his plea deal, Stephen Page and his co-defendant James Brewer pled guilty to first-degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of Solomon Reese on the 2300 block of Good Hope Road, SE in 2011.
Following his sentencing in 2014, Page filed ineffective assistance of counsel paperwork against his attorney, Justin Okezie. Page said he is unhappy with his 31-year sentence because Okezie told him he would receive no more than an 18-year concurrent sentence.
On June 28, Page told DC Superior Court Judge Herbert Dixon, that prior to pleading guilty he told Okezie that he wanted to go to trial. Page said he did not want to accept the plea, but Brewer did. Since they could not agree, the plea deal was rejected.
When the prosecution asked if there was anyone who could corroborate his claim, Page said there was not.
During the hearing, Okezie said that he did not make any promises to Page about his sentence.
According to Okezie, Page wanted to accept the prosecution’s deal, but Brewer refused. Furthermore, Okezie said when the co-defendants got closer to trial Brewer changed his mind and decided to plead guilty. Brewer and Page ultimately accepted the plea deal.
Judge Dixon said he would take the case under advisement.