On Feb. 23, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein sentenced a homicide defendant to 96 months in prison with credit for time served.
Alton Rivers, 59, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed of a senior citizen for his involvement in the death of Anthony Anderson, 68, on the 3600 block of 14th Street, NW, on July 27, 2018.
According to court documents, Rivers and Anderson were engaged in an argument when the victim hit Rivers in the mouth. In response, Rivers pulled out a screwdriver and fatally stabbed Anderson in the chest and abdomen.
Rivers claimed he thought Anderson was armed.
On Dec. 18, 2023, Rivers pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. During the sentencing, the prosecution requested that the sentence provide Rivers the structure he needs to get routine help and medication due to his mental health issues.
Rivers’ defense attorney, Stephen LoGerfo, said that Rivers has already been incarcerated for six years and has worked hard to understand the gravity of his actions.
Rivers stated before the court, “This is a very unusual situation for me and I feel for the decedent as well as the family.”
Judge Epstein said that although Rivers would be credited for accepting responsibility and pleading guilty, he would still receive a harsher sentence because of his “very lengthy criminal history” and four previous felony convictions.
Judge Epstein stated, “If you commit increasingly severe crimes, punishment will be increasingly severe.”
He then sentenced Rivers to 96 months in prison with credit for time served, placement in a mental health prison facility, and supervised release of five years.
No further court dates were set.
