A woman attempting to stab her intended victim but wound up striking a good Samaritan who was trying to intervene was sentenced on May 11 by DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld.
Tara Bellinger, 40, was convicted with assault with a dangerous weapon and misdemeanor assault on a police officer for her part in a confrontation on the unit block of Forrester Street, SW. In an agreement with the prosecutor, she pleaded guilty on March 5.
During the sentencing the prosecutor reviewed the sequence of events that led to Bellinger’s arrest. He said she showed up at the intended victim’s residence and started swinging a knife at her as soon as the door was opened. In the ensuing commotion a bystander tried to intervene and was cut in the hand.
The prosecutor called Bellinger’s behavior “incredibly concerning” in that she just missed stabbing the second victim in the head. In addition, when officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrived, Bellinger began stomping and spat at the police.
Given the nature of the offense, the prosecutor asked Judge Hertzfeld to impose a 24-month sentence for the assault with a dangerous weapons charge and 30 days for assaulting a police officer.
Further, the prosecutor said Bellinger was convicted in a PCP case and was the subject of three bench warrants.
In response, defense attorney Matthew Hertz described Bellinger as “reflective, apologetic and polite.” He characterized the episode as “a really bad night. It started bad; it ended bad.”
He indicated that her son was monitoring the proceeding and Bellinger had family in the courtroom. Hertz argued for a “short split sentence,” that would emphasize rehabilitation over incarceration.
“I’m sorry and apologetic for what happened,” Belllinger said. “I’m not the type of person who would make the same mistake twice.” In addition, she wrote a letter expressing her remorse to Judge Hertzfeld.
The judge said she was impressed that Bellinger was apparently doing well in jail and appreciated the letter.
Still, she said, “The prosecutor was right. It was an incredibly dangerous situation. You could have killed someone.”
The judge sentenced Bellinger to 24 months on the assault with a dangerous weapons charge with 12 months suspended. For assault on a police officer Bellinger will get 30 days jail time consecutive to the other charges minus credit for time served.
In addition, she must pay $250 to the Victims of Violent Crimes Fund and serve three years of supervised release. The judge also imposed a stay away order from the victims.
No further hearings are scheduled in the case.
