Two women charged in connection to a Metro bus stabbing and assault accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Oct. 17.
Ashley Brown, 27, and Donea Williams, 31, were originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for their involvement in a physical assault that turned into a stabbing aboard a bus at the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and 28th Street, SE on Dec. 8, 2024. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.
During the hearing, Russell Hairston, Williams’ attorney, and Peter Cooper, Brown’s attorney, alerted the court of their intent to accept a plea deal extended by the prosecution.
According to the defense, the deal required both defendants plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.
Parties agreed that each defendant’s sentence will be based on the voluntary sentencing guidelines, dependent on their criminal history. The maximum penalty Brown and Williams face is ten years in prison, and/or a fine of $25,000.
According to the prosecution, had the case gone to trial, they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that on the day of the incident, Brown boarded a bus in which the victim was a passenger.
Prosecutors claimed that Brown called Williams to meet the bus at the incident location, and as the bus approached the location, Brown punched the victim multiple times. As Williams boarded the bus, she brandished a knife and stabbed the victim twice on his head and three times in the back. Prosecutors argued Brown told Williams to “stab him up,” as she attacked the victim.
“You encouraged Ms. Williams to continue stabbing [the victim],” Judge Kravitz asked Brown – she said yes, but insisted she never personally attacked him with a weapon.
Cooper and Hairston requested Williams and Brown be released pending sentencing, stating that they could utilize the time to prove their ability to serve a sentence through a probationary period.
“[Brown’s] future depends a lot on her performance between now and then,” Cooper told Judge Kravitz.
Hairston added that Williams has a young child whom she would like to spend time with before her sentencing. According to Hairston, Williams has gotten 25 educational certificates and vocational training during her incarceration.
The prosecution opposed the request, stating that they accepted a plea deal, which was a conviction, and they continue to pose a threat to the victim.
“I’ll be very interested in learning more about [the defendants] at sentencing,” Judge Kravitz said. However, he denied the requests for release.
Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing Dec. 19.
