DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld sentenced a carjacking defendant to 12 years in prison on Aug. 29.
On June 23, Erick Alvarenga, 19, and Malik Kearney, 20, pleaded guilty to two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession of a firearm for their involvement in two incidents in 2024.
The first incident took place on the 6100 block of Eastern Avenue, NE, on Dec. 28, 2024, and the second took place on the 4200 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE, on Jan. 3.
During the hearing, Kearney’s sentencing was postponed to allow the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) additional time to evaluate his mental competency.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Oct. 10 for Kearney.
At the Aug. 29 hearing, the prosecution began their argument explaining that the victim from the Dec. 28 carjacking “did not want to have to relive the experience,” so would not be testifying, and that the victim from the Jan. 3 carjacking had no victim impact statement.
The prosecution asked Judge Hertzfeld for 84 months for each count of unarmed carjacking, and five years for each charge of possession of a firearm during a violent offense.
They also requested the sentences be served consecutively, highlighting the crimes stemmed from different incidents with different victims.
The prosecution sourced a video of the Jan. 3 offense, saying that prohibition isn’t appropriate and that the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) “is not earned now but later,” and even if Alvarenga did get a lighter sentence under the act, that it should include 180 hours of community service and 3 years of supervised prohibition. The YRA allows for a young defendant’s conviction to be sealed if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements.
Alvarenga’s defense attorney, Elizabeth Paige White, argued in response that Alvarenga should be sentenced under the YRA because the legislative intent of the act is to “give a second chance” to youth offenders.
White highlighted Alvarenga’s troubled past, pointing out that his criminal activity started after losses of loved ones in his life. Further, she also invited Alvarenga’s mother to the defense table, who asked the judge to have “a little bit of faith” in her son.
Alvarenga read a letter to Judge Hertzfeld about his time in jail, reflecting on his actions and his intent to do better and get help.
However, Judge Hertzfeld, who stated she has tried Alvarenga for previous similar crimes, stated “We’ve been around this block before.” She imposed a sentence of 60 months for each count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, as well as 84 months for each count of carjacking, followed by three years of supervised release. This would equate to 14 years in prison and three years of supervised release.
No further dates were set for Alvarenga.
