A suspect accused of stabbing a victim in the back accepted a guilty plea in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno on April 27.
Muhammad Abubakor, 25, was originally indicted for assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with serious bodily injury for an incident that occurred on Oct. 30 in the 3400 block of 14th Street, NW.
According to court documents, the victim was leaving his friend’s house on the way to his car. At that point an unknown Black male approached from behind “and stabbed him in the lower back, causing a two-to-three inch puncture wound.”
Represented by attorney John Sample, Abubakor accepted the prosecution’s offer to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, dropping the second count in the indictment. In return, the prosecution agreed not to seek an indictment on greater charges and recommend sentencing within the felony guidelines.
Judge Salerno asked Abubakor if he understood that by accepting a guilty plea he would be waiving his right to a trial and to appeal the verdict if convicted, The defendant acknowledged the terms with a simple, “yes.”
The prosecutor said that based on the facts had the case gone to trial, a jury would have convicted Abukakor of the attack. He could face a penalty of five years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine for the crime.
Sentencing is set for June 29.
