A defendant pleaded guilty to two homicides three days before he was scheduled to begin trial before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on Sept. 5.
Michael Mason, 21, was originally charged with conspiracy, two counts of first-degree murder while armed, three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of assault with intent to murder while armed, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and seven counts of criminal street gang affiliation while committing a felony or violent misdemeanor.
The charges stem from his involvement in three separate incidents. The death of 21-year-old Brea Moon and injury of a second victim on the 3900 block of Alabama Avenue, SE, on April 7, 2020. A shooting that injured two on April 8, 2020 on the 300 block of Anacostia Road, SE. Additionally, the death of 18-year-old Antwuan Roach on May 22, 2020 on the 3800 block of East Capitol Street, NE.
Parties were prepared to begin Mason’s jury trial on Sept. 8. However, Mason’s attorneys, Bernadette Armand and Andrew Ain, informed Judge Park that Mason accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors to two counts of second-degree murder while armed. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed all other charges and agreed to a total sentence range of 27-to-31 years of imprisonment with five years of supervised release.
If parties had not agreed upon a sentence range, each count of second-degree murder would have carried a potential maximum penalty of 40 years of imprisonment.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene for sentencing on Oct. 31.
