A defendant pleaded guilty to two charges resulting from a carjacking incident and two other cases in front of DC Superior Court Judge Jenifer Di Toro on June 23.
Kayvon Bell, 24, was initially charged with armed carjacking for his involvement in an incident on the 3200 block of 15th Place, SE on March 11.
Bell accepted a global plea deal on June 23, pleading guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license, which resolved all three of his open cases. Only the assault with a dangerous weapon charge was attributed to the carjacking incident.
The carjacking involved three other suspects: Zoe Jackson, 27, Cordell Rawls, 27, and Justin Ferguson, 26. During the incident, Bell and his accomplices allegedly followed a car dealer before attacking him and taking his Chevrolet Malibu. Bell was arrested and charged with armed carjacking on March 25.
Bell was additionally charged with contempt for entering a location from which he had been banned, as well as carrying a pistol without a license and possession of a prohibited weapon on a prior arrest.
Bell’s defense attorney, Lisbeth Sapirstein, claimed that the defendant should be released on home confinement for the two months leading up to his sentencing to be with his family following his brother’s passing. Additionally, she claimed that Bell’s risk of violence would be low on release, citing that he was not involved with the firearm and taser use involved in the carjacking.
Prosecutors claimed that although he did not personally use the weapons, he did “chase the complainant down” and was a “substantial participant” in the incident.
Judge Di Toro ruled that because of the magnitude and plurality of his cases, the defense’s argument was not sufficient to rebut the presumption that his release wouldn’t pose a threat to the community.
The other three suspects in the carjacking case are expected to reconvene for a felony status conference on Aug. 17.
Sentencing for Bell has been scheduled for Aug. 24.
