Homicide Defendant Sentenced to 12 Years

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein sentenced a homicide defendant to 12 years on Oct. 15.

Javon Duckwilder, 27, was originally charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, and carrying a pistol without a license, for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Juwan Smith on Oct. 23, 2021, on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

According to documents, the shooting stemmed from a verbal altercation between Smith and Duckwilder at a gas station, which escalated to Duckwilder shooting Smith.

On June 20, Duckwilder accepted an offer extended by prosecutors, which required him to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. Parties agreed to a sentence of 12 years.

During the hearing, Duckwilder’s defense attorney, Jesse Winograd, requested that Duckwilder be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which allows a defendant that committed a crime under the age of 25 to have their conviction sealed if sentencing requirements are met.

Winogard stated that although Duckwilder has a significant criminal record and this is a serious offense, he also has potential that was never realized and he faced struggles imposed by his difficult upbringing along with mental illness that was undiagnosed for most of his life.

Winogard stated that the YRA would allow Duckwilder to reach some of the potential that he’s never met. “He is going to re-enter society at some point and a sentence under the youth act allows him to contribute to society rather than be a detriment to it,” said Winogard.

Prosecution stated that the YRA would not be appropriate primarily because of Duckwilders lengthy criminal record that has been, “culminating in the worst possible crime a person can commit, which is homicide.” They also stated that Duckwilder has a pattern of non compliance with any term of supervision he has had.

Judge Epstein accepted the plea and imposed the 12 year sentence and rejected the defense’s request for the YRA. Judge Epstein advised Duckwilder to take advantage of the opportunities provided to him for rehabilitation while he is serving his sentence, including mental health services.