A stabbing defendant accepted a plea deal in a June 24 status hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz.
Malik Seltzer, 30, was initially charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for his involvement in a stabbing on Sept. 15, 2021 on the 4000 block of 1st Street, SE.
Prosecutors previously alleged that the stabbing victim was a witness to the fatal shooting of Paris Odemns, 37, on Sept. 15, 2021 on the 4000 block of 1st Street, SE. However, a jury acquitted Seltzer on Jan. 22 of first-degree premeditated murder of Odemns while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.
The defense in that case questioned the credibility of a key witness who faced pending charges and had been summoned under a bench warrant.
At the plea hearing, Seltzer accepted a plea agreement from the prosecutors for his involvement in the stabbing. He pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill in exchange for prosecutors dismissing the initial charge. Judge Kravitz noted that the maximum sentence for this charge is 15 years of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
However, in the agreement, parties agreed that if accepted by Judge Kravitz, Seltzer will serve 66 months in prison, concurrent to another sentence he is serving, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, Seltzer was sentenced in 2022 to 78 months for an unrelated robbery offense. Seltzer is expected to finish his sentence for robbery in May 2028.
Seltzer’s attorney, Kevann Gardner, said Seltzer could be in a halfway house by December 2026 if he is given credit for good behavior in prison.
To finalize the agreement, the prosecution read out what they believed the evidence would have proved if the case had gone to trial. Seltzer initially hesitated to agree to the time of the incident being at or around 6:30 p. m.
“It’s not true?” Judge Kravitz asked. Gardner requested that the time of the incident be amended to the “afternoon” and parties agreed to the request.
Seltzer also hesitated when prosecutors said he did not act in self-defense.
Seltzer alleged that the stabbing victim “did something,” to him earlier that day, so Seltzer “left and came back” before the stabbing.
Judge Kravitz explained that because Seltzer did not believe he was in imminent danger, his use of deadly force could not qualify as self-defense. However, the judge understood that Seltzer “might have had some concerns about what would happen in the future.” Seltzer acknowledged the distinction.
Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing on July 31.
