After hearing from the victim’s family members, a homicide defendant was sentenced to serve a little more than 14 years in prison before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on Feb. 27 .
David Pena, 49 was originally charged with second-degree muder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence or dangerous offense, assault with a dangerous weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the shooting of Maurice Robinson, 24. The incident occurred on June 12, 2023, on the 3000 block of 30th Street, SE.
Judge Dayson sentenced him to 12 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter while armed, 5 years in prison for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, 2.5 years in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon and a little over a year in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. .
According to the DC Superior Court, the sentences for Pena’s voluntary manslaughter charge and his assault charge are slated to run consecutively, while the sentences for his possession charges are scheduled to run concurrently. Pena was also sentenced to serve five years of supervised release and pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund.
On Friday, prosecutors asked the court to disregard a letter that was written by one of the jurors before the victim impact statements began. The prosecution argued that the letter was unreliable and claimed that someone from the defense team approached the juror asking questions about their inclination for the verdict and wanted the juror’s number.
Pena’s defense attorney, Dana Page, countered the court should consider the juror’s letter. Page said the juror voluntarily approached the defense team providing their number. The juror stated to the defense that they wanted to write a letter to the court sharing their opinion about the sentencing Pena would receive.
Judge Dayson stated that the letter would be considered, since it reflected the juror’s opinion after the verdict was decided. The court then proceeded with victim impact statements. Six members of Robinson’s family spoke in court including Robinson’s mother, the mother of his child, his son, his two sisters and his grandmother.
“That man took my dad away from me,” Robinson’s son said, explaining that his father was his “whole world.”
Robinson’s mother said the case will never be over because she will never be able to see her son ever again.
After the victim impact statements, the prosecutors made their arguments about how gun violence begins with the decision to possess a firearm. They said Pena had prior gun convictions and has served time in prison as a result, yet he will choose to carry a weapon. The prosecutor claimed that Pena didn’t care about the law.
“The purpose of a gun is to kill,” the prosecutor said, stating that Pena shot Robinson in the back four times while he was trying to run away. The prosecution said Pena showed no remorse for his crime and asked the judge to sentence him to 25 years in prison.
However, the defense painted a different picture, saying Pena was carrying the firearm for protection because he lived in a dangerous neighborhood.
Page said Pena acted out in self-defense after seeing his stepdaughter knocked to the ground and stomped. She said Pena was not the initial perpetrator. Robinson was there since he and a group went to Pena’s house, she explained.
After the defense made their statement, Pena read a letter to the court apologizing to Robinson’s family for his actions. He expressed that he hopes his children will make better choices in their lives than he did.
As of March 2, no further hearings have been scheduled in this case.
