Two brothers accused of a fatal shooting rejected plea deals and agreed to delay their trial before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on April 30.
Juvan Alston, 24, and Davon Alston, 23, are charged with conspiracy, first-degree premeditated murder while armed, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition, Juvan is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than a year and Davon with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Dennis Simms on the 800 block of Yuma Street, SE on July 1, 2022. Simms died from one shot to his head.
At the hearing, The prosecutor noted the “wired” plea offers expired the day prior to the hearing. Judge Kravitz confirmed Juvan and Davon rejected both offers and wanted to proceed to trial. At the last hearing on April 24, the prosecutors placed two plea offers on the record.
The first would require Juvan and Davon both plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed. In exchange, the prosecution would dismiss any greater or remaining charges and limit their sentence request to the midpoint of the guidelines.
The second offer, a global plea deal that would resolve the defendants’ cases in both DC and Prince George’s County, MD, would require both defendants to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed in the present cases and motor vehicle theft in their Maryland cases. In exchange, the prosecution would dismiss all remaining charges in both cases, agree for the sentences to run concurrently, and dismiss Juvan and Davon’s unrelated cases stemming from separate incidents at the DC Jail in October 2025.
After the co-defendants rejected the deals, the prosecution requested to reschedule their trial originally scheduled for June 8. They said both prosecutors would be on leave in the weeks prior to the trial and as a result, parties could not discuss late filed motions from both defense teams.
In particular, Madalyn Harvey, Davon’s attorney, filed a motion the night prior to the hearing to suppress evidence from her client’s phone. The prosecutor said the case relies heavily on Instagram evidence and expected a lengthy litigation to resolve the issue. Stephen LoGerfo, Juvan’s attorney, anticipated filing a similar motion.
Judge Kravitz accepted some responsibility for the issue because he never set pre-trial deadlines for the parties. Therefore, the judge said he could not blame the defense for waiting to file their motions.
After speaking with their clients, LoGerfo and Harvey did not object to rescheduling the trial. The parties scheduled the new trial date for July 6, 2027 and Judge Kravitz set pre-trial motions deadlines.
Harvey also requested Davon’s release on home confinement but Judge Kravitz did not acknowledge the request.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Aug. 28.
