In a brief appearance before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on Dec. 19, a suspect convicted in a murder case made an unsuccessful attempt to withdraw his guilty plea after his two co-defendants conceded they committed the crime.
“There is no basis to the motion to withdraw his plea,” said Judge Ryan to 20-year-old Ronald Henderson.
On May 30, Daveon Robinson, 19, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, voluntary manslaughter and assault with a dangerous weapon for the fatal shooting of Clayton Marshall, 32, and the non-fatal shooting of another individual on April 12, 2022 on the 2200 block of Savannah Street, SE.
Derricko Johnson, 21, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for the non-fatal shooting of two individuals at the same location, on January 2, 2022.
Henderson initially pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in the incident. However, he changed his mind, because, as Judge Ryan summarized, “He felt pressured to accept the agreement, and that the plea was cumulative.”
According to court documents, Robinson, Johnson and Henderson are members of the “Get Back Gang” and carried out plans to kill their rivals.
To reverse a plea, Judge Ryan said one of three conditions has to be satisfied–a legal assertion of innocence, an inordinate delay in the case or lack of competent counsel. Finding none applied to Henderson’s case, Judge Ryan said, “I have to deny your request for relief.”
Henderson did not comment on the ruling.
At the prosecutor’s request all three defendants will be sentenced on March 6, 3026.
