Two co-defendants in an armed carjacking and robbery case rejected a plea offer in an April 15 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Eric Glover.
Marquis Alston, 19, is charged with armed carjacking and robbery while armed for his alleged involvement in an armed carjacking on Jan. 23 on the 1700 block of New Jersey Avenue NW and an armed robbery on Jan. 24 on the 300 block of 12th Street SE.
Lee Johnson, 19, is charged with robbery while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the same series of events
The plea offer presented by the prosecution required Alston to plead guilty to armed carjacking and assault with intent to commit robbery while armed. The charges would be wired, meaning both defendants would have to accept the terms, and the prosecution reserved the right to make sentencing recommendations–but would not oppose concurrent sentencing.
A sentence at the bottom of the guidelines was recommended for Alston. Johnson’s charges would have stayed the same, but with a shorter recommended term
After parties rejected the plea, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective in the carjacking task force testified there was surveillance footage of the armed robbery, and Alston allegedly photographed himself inside the stolen vehicle.
The detective also testified that Alston and Johnson used the credit cards allegedly stolen in the robbery on the same day at a gas station. Judge Glover determined probable cause by the weight of the evidence, but said he would hear the defense on possible release conditions.
Alston’s defense attorney, Mark Rollins, requested that his client be released on 24-hour home confinement with GPS monitoring, as Alston is still seeking his high school diploma and has an intellectual disability that requires special instruction.
Johnson’s defense attorney, Atiq Ahmed, also requested release modifications for educational circumstances and the fact that he has no criminal record.
Judge Glover denied both requests but said they could ask for release again at a later date.
Parties are slated to reconvene on April 22.
