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By
Adriana Marroquin
- December 10, 2024
Court
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Daily Stories
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Shooting
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Suspects
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DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo sentenced a teen defendant to six-and-a-half years in connection to a shooting during a Dec. 10 hearing.
On Aug. 30, Thomas Leach, 18, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a shooting that injured three individuals at the Benning Road Metro Station on the 4000 block of Central Avenue, NE, on Dec. 8, 2022.
Leach also pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license for his illegal possession of a firearm on Dec. 9, 2022, when he was arrested after triggering a metal detector at a school on the 3200 block of 16th Street, NW.
Leach was charged as an adult under Title 16.
During the hearing, the prosecution requested Judge Demeo sentence him to 78 months of incarceration with three years of supervised release for the “egregiousness” of his conduct during the incident. The prosecutor argued that the intended target was a juvenile, who sustained life-threatening injuries, adding that two additional individuals took fire from stray bullets.
“Leach brought a gun to a fist fight,” the prosecutor insisted, stating that one of the mitigating factors for the plea deal was the fact that the victim was the initial aggressor, as he attempted to punch Leach before he was shot.
The prosecutor argued the plea deal was a “large departure” from what Leach would have been sentenced to had the case gone to trial and he had been convicted.
Terrence Austin, Leach’s attorney, stated Leach had “dark and harsh times” in his childhood, which caused a lot of trauma for Leach, which he argued had “lasting effects” on the defendant.
“He was just 16-years-old when he was brought in… but he was treated like a hardened adult man,” Austin insisted.
“He was a child then, and he is very much a child now,” he added, stating that Leach recognizes how much room for improvement he has.
Austin argued Leach is a “young man experiencing grief, potential post-traumatic stress disorder, mental health needs and bullying. He never received any support,” but he is resilient and confident in his future.
“I truly and sincerely apologize to the victims,” Leach told Judge Demeo, arguing that “incarceration takes a toll on the mind and body” of an individual.
Leach argued he is committed to becoming a youth advocate, in order to show kids in similar situations that “there’s more to life than violence.”
“He wants to use his story to give back,” Austin highlighted, claiming that “a 60 month sentence is appropriate for this case.” He requested Leach be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which allows a young defendant’s conviction to be sealed if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements – the prosecution vehemently opposed the request, stating that Leach was charged with two additional assault cases while he was incarcerated.
Judge Demeo denied the defense’s request for a YRA sentencing, stating that she has “great concern about his decision making,” and cited the nature and circumstances of the offenses.
She sentenced him to 34 months each for the aggravated assault and assault with a dangerous weapon charges, as well as 10 months for carrying a pistol without a license. The sentences will be served consecutively, totaling 78 months of incarceration.
She cited his “excessive force,” and continuous dangerousness to the community as part of the reason why she sentenced him as the prosecution requested.
However, Judge Demeo argued she is optimistic that he can be rehabilitated, but remains concerned given where he is now.
She deemed the plea deal “fairly lenient,” adding that he will be required to get mental health assessments and treatment, as well as trauma therapy, anger management counseling, and is required to get his GED.
No further dates were set.