Shooting Defendant’s Sentence Requires Drug and Mental Health Treatment

By Laura Berol - August 12, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow gave Dakia Thomas a suspended sentence on Aug. 9 that requires her to receive mental health and drug abuse treatment in order to stay out of prison.

Thomas, 43, was originally charged with four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of an unregistered firearm/unlawful possession of a firearm or destructive device, and unlawful possession of ammunition. These charges stemmed from her involvement in a non-fatal shooting incident that occurred on Dec. 16, 2021, on the 3500 block of Albert Irvin Cassell Place, NE. No injuries were reported. 

On Feb. 20, Thomas accepted an agreement to plead guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges. 

The prosecutor asked Judge Pasichow to sentence Thomas to five years imprisonment for each of the two charges, noting that her shooting at multiple individuals on the street could easily have resulted in murder.

Brandon Burrell, Thomas’ defense attorney, requested a prison sentence totalling two-and-a-half years. He said Thomas has been addressing her problems with drug use and mental health, which were contributing factors in her offense.

Judge Pasichow sentenced Thomas to five years incarceration for each offense, to run concurrently, but suspended the sentence for time served and an additional three years supervised release.

During probation, Judge Pasichow said, Thomas must enroll and participate in mental health and drug treatment programs as directed by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA).

“There’s a lot to be done, and you have to take advantage of the resources that will be provided to you,” Judge Pasichow told Thomas. 

Thomas must also pay $200 to the Victims of Violent Crime Compensation Fund and register as a gun offender in the District of Columbia. She must comply with a stay-away order from the shooting victims.

No more hearings are scheduled in this case.