A defendant who assaulted and carjacked a victim accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel on July 23.
Bryan Cooper, 36, was originally charged with unarmed carjacking and assault with intent to commit robbery for his involvement in a carjacking at a McDonald’s on the 2300 block of Georgia Avenue, NW on May 25.
According to court documents, Cooper approached the victim while he was sitting in his vehicle, punched him in the face, and drove away in the victim’s car.
At the hearing, Cooper pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. Under the plea agreement, the prosecution will not seek sentencing enhancements, dismiss the remaining charges, not seek an indictment with additional or greater charges, and agree to limit their sentence request at the midpoint of the sentencing guidelines.
Cooper was arraigned on the new charge and waived his right to independently test the DNA evidence against him.
Had the case gone to trial, the prosecution stated they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Cooper assaulted the victim and stole his vehicle from a McDonald’s parking lot.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Oct. 30 for Cooper’s sentencing.
