2014 Homicide Defendant’s Charge Reduced to Second-Degree Murder While Armed

By Sadie Herman [former] - January 12, 2024
Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Jan. 11, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan granted a joint motion to accuse a homicide defendant of a lesser charge, and impose a lesser sentence. 

In 2017, a jury found Johnathan Taylor, 33 guilty of first-degree murder while armed for the death of 25-year-old Dexter Motley on the unit block of 46th Place, NE on Aug. 14, 2014. Taylor was also found guilty of possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with the intent to kill while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm and obstruction of violence. Taylor was sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2017. 

At the Jan. 11 hearing, the prosecution and Taylor’s defense attorney, Andrew Ain, discussed a joint motion filed from both parties. 

The motion requested Judge Raffinan to dismiss the first-degree murder while armed charge that Taylor was originally charged with, and change it to second-degree murder while armed. By granting this motion, Taylor’s sentence would therefore be reduced. 

The reasoning for an agreement is a stipulated disposition of the defendant’s direct appeal. In sum, this means that both parties have agreed to the factual nature of this case weighing in favor of lessening Taylor’s charge and sentence, therefore saving the time and expense of further investigation. 

Judge Raffinan granted the motion by both parties, therefore reducing Taylor’s first-degree murder while armed charge to second-degree murder while armed, and therefore eventually shortening his sentence. 

Parties are expected to reconvene on March 15.