Family of Hit-and-Run Victim Asks for Maximum Sentence

By Marissa Stambaugh - September 23, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Victims |

On Sept. 20, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced a man convicted of manslaughter  to nine years with two years of probation for one count of involuntary manslaughter. 

Eric Beasley, 33, was initially charged with first-degree murder, but pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. The charges stemmed from his involvement in a hit-and-run incident on the 2100 Block of Young Street, SE on Sept. 4, 2020, resulting in the death of 45-year-old David Farewell.

According to court documents agreed to a sentence ranging from six-to-nine years in prison.

The prosecution argued for the maximum sentence, saying the  act was done with malice and, by reducing the sentence from first-degree murder to involuntary manslaughter, the justice system was doing a disservice to the grieving family.

In an impact statements Farewell’s family members said Beasley should be given life without parole. “His life is worth more than six-to-nine years your honor,” one family member said.

Defense Attorneys Madalyn Harvey and Patrick Nowak acknowledged the damage Beasley caused, but argued for a lesser sentence since prosecutor’s dropped the murder charge as part of the plea. Since then Beasley has been attending classes and is becoming more “thoughtful with age,” the defense said.

Beasley addressed the grieving family, saying he wished he could have done better instead of fleeing the scene.” 

Considering the facts, Judge Raffinan sentenced Beasley to nine years, suspending one.n. 

Beasley must also follow a specialized intervention plan including anger management, substance abuse and mental health evaluations. 

Beasley’s sentence is set to run consecutively to any other pending confinement.