DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno sentenced an armed carjacking defendant with no prior convictions to four years of imprisonment on Aug. 22.
On March 3, Lamontee Fowler, 21, pleaded guilty to armed carjacking and endangerment with a firearm for pistol-whipping a victim’s head and fleeing with their vehicle and threatening a second victim with a gun and stealing her vehicle.
The first incident occurred on the 4400 block of Texas Avenue, SE on April 27, 2024, and the second occurred on the 4200 block of D Street, SE on May 2, 2023.
The prosecution asked the court to sentence Fowler to the mandatory minimum of 15 years for the armed carjacking and 24 months for the endangerment with a firearm. The prosecutor said they take no position on the court imposing the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which allows a young defendant’s conviction to be sealed if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements.
The judge said the prosecution requesting 15 years contradicts its taking no position on the YRA because if the court sentences Fowler under the District Law, the sentence would likely be less than 15 years.
The prosecution altered its request, saying it opposes the court imposing the act, only to later clarify it holds no position.
“We’ve had three articulated positions during the short hearing already,” Judge Salerno said.
Because the prosecution ultimately made the latter request , Judge Salerno clarified the prosecution is not against a sentence below the mandatory minimum.
The prosecution asked that Fowler receive three years of supervised release following his incarceration and described his behavior as “violent and terrifying.”
“The dangerousness of both acts cannot be understated,” the prosecutor explained.
Despite urging the court to hold Fowler fully accountable, the prosecution acknowledged the defendant’s youth and said he is capable of becoming a “productive member of society.”
Defense attorney Hannah Akintoye said Fowler should receive benefits of the YRA and requested a sentence below the mandatory minimum because “he’s still developing now, and these are very, very critical years in his life.”
Akintoye added he had a relatively “stable life” before committing these offenses. He had a job before being incarcerated and recently realized “he got so far off track from where he was.”
She also said he has endured many stressors that contributed to his actions, including neurological deficiencies, and becoming a young parent.
Akintoye argued that Fowler can be a law-abiding and productive citizen, as he has been working towards a future as an electrician.
Fowler later apologized to all families involved.
“I’m gonna do the programs, get a job, take care of my son, and do whatever needs to be done to make sure I don’t end up here again,” Fowler said.
Judge Salerno said Fowler seemed to be more stable when given support and believes he does not need to be sentenced to 15 years but requires a “significant period of supervision afterwards” and time to reflect.
The judge sentenced Fowler to 120 months–all of which are suspended except for 48–under the YRA with three years of supervised release suspended and three years of probation for armed carjacking. He also imposed a concurrent sentence of 12 months under the YRA for endangerment with a firearm. The periods of supervised release and probation are concurrent as well.
He must register as a gun offender in DC when released.
No future dates were scheduled.
