DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean accepted a plea agreement in a shooting case on Nov. 4, which the suspect committed while on release for a separate incident.
Kamari Childs, 20, was originally charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, endangerment with a firearm in a public place, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction of more than one year, and destruction of property less than $1000.
These charges stem from a shooting at a playground on Sept. 15 on the 200 block of N Street, SW. No individuals were reported to be injured during the shooting.
At the hearing, Childs accepted a deal extended by the prosecution that required him to plead guilty to three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction of more than one year. In exchange, all other charges will be dismissed and prosecution will not seek an indictment.
The assault with a dangerous weapon charge can carry a maximum sentence of up to ten years imprisonment in DC and the unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction of more than one year charge carries a mandatory minimum imprisonment of one year and a maximum of ten years.
In addition, Childs will also waive his right to independent DNA testing and register as a gun offender in DC for two years after he’s released.
According to the prosecution, the plea deal reflects the seriousness of the case and notes the incident occurred while Childs was still on probation from another firearm case he was sentenced to earlier in the same month.
Childs had to register as a gun offender in DC as a condition of his probation for the previous case, and his possession of another firearm violated his probation.
He subsequently had his probation in the previous case revoked. His plea only relates to this case, the probation revocation in the previous case will trail this case’s sentencing.
Childs’ defense lawyer Wole Falodun asked for a Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) study for the defendant before sentencing went forward, which was granted. The YRA allows a defendant’s conviction to be sealed if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements. It is up to the judge’s discretion to sentence a defendant under the YRA.
The court also ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) prior to sentencing to consider the defendant’s past, probation violation, and details of the second firearm case.
Falodun also motioned for the release of the defendant, which was quickly denied by Judge McLean, citing it had been eight days after his release that he committed this shooting. The defendant remains confined.
Parties are set to reconvene Jan. 30 for sentencing.
