DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe sentenced a teenage shooting defendant to 19 months of incarceration and revoked his current probation status, rejecting the defense’s request that he be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) on Aug. 1.
On April 2, Antuan Myles, 19, pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and unlawful discarding of a firearm for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting on Dec. 19, 2024, on the 5200 block of Blaine Street, NE. There were no injuries.
Myles was on probation for a misdemeanor drug possession case at the time of the incident. Judge Pipe, who had also sentenced Myles in his misdemeanor case, stated that at the time she chose to give him a chance to have a clean adult record as the offense was “very simple… inconsequential.”
Judge Pipe stated that she was going to reinstate Myles’ misdemeanor sentence disregarding her earlier action. Miles attorney in that case, Elliot Queen, was allowed to make a statement commenting, “It’s recklessness… but it appears that its youthful recklessness.”
The prosecution asked that Myles’ probation be revoked on his misdemeanor case and that the previously waived ten days of incarceration be reinstated with six months probation. On the felony case, they asked for a sentence of 19 months with three years supervised release each for carrying a pistol without a license and unlawful discarding of a firearm and for a sentence of nine months with three years of supervised release for unlawful discharge. They requested that sentences run concurrently.
Defense attorney Emma Mlyniec asked for a sentence that would return Myles to the community under the YRA, which allows for a young defendant’s conviction to be sealed if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements. She asked for initial detention with the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) followed by supervised release.
Mlyniec argued “he’s been through a lot” and has shown to be resilience through a difficult childhood. She informed the court that Myles’ older brother was murdered while he was in juvenile custody. This affected him when he returned home Mlyniec said, causing him to look for support to older, “antisocial peers.”
Mlyniec also noted that Myles was wrongfully accused and incarcerated in a case in Maryland, significantly undermining his juvenile release. Still, prior to this offense, he held two jobs as a mechanic and was progaressing toward community college.
“He was certainly trying and he was certainly showing progress,,” Mlyniec said and that his DYRS mentors were willing to take him back.
Myles apologized to the court, his family, and community saying he took full responsibility for his actions before Judge Pipe determined his sentence.
The judge sentenced Myles per the prosecution’s request of 19 months with three years supervised release each for carrying a pistol without a license and unlawful discarding of a firearm and nine months with three years of supervised release for unlawful discharge all to run concurrently.
She argued their request was generous and said, “if they were asking for more [time], I would have been inclined to give him more.”
Judge Pipe got emotional in the sentencing saying, “I would have given him all the breaks in the world” had he not shown himself to be such a danger to the community. She argued that deferring to the YRA is not appropriate in this case as Myles clearly has been unable to appreciate the consequences of his actions.
No further dates were set.
