A homicide defendant accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on July 3.
John Dickens, 47, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 41-year-old Kelvin Hamlett who was left in his burning car, on the 1500 block of Gales Street, NE, on Nov. 12.
At the hearing, Kevin Irving, Dickens’ defense attorney, alerted Judge Epstein he was accepting a deal, which required him to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed, in exchange for not being indicted on greater charges.
Through the deal, the parties agreed to a sentencing range of 126-to-228 months.
Additionally, Irving motioned for Dickens’ previous defense attorney, Kevann Gardner, to be present at the sentencing, stating Dickens wants both attorneys to represent him.
Judge Epstein granted the request, and re-instated Gardner as co-counsel.
Parties are slated to meet Oct. 18 for sentencing.
