Judge Gives Murder Defendant Credit for Time Served

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A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a murder defendant to eight years in prison but gave him credit for time served for cooperating with the prosecution. Steven Pugh pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his involvement in the shooting of 39-year-old Marcellus Green on the 3200 block of 28th Street, SE. Chief Judge Robert Morin, sentenced Pugh, 26, to eight years with credit for time served because Pugh agreed to cooperate with the government in exchange for a benefit. The benefit would allow Pugh to serve a little more than three years in prison. Dominique Williams and Maricco Knight were also arrested and charged in connection to this case. Williams, 25, was sentenced to 24 years in prison after being found guilty of second-degree murder while armed in May 2018. Knight, 26, was sentenced in May of 2018 to seven years in prison for being an accessory after the fact and six years for obstruction of justice. Both sentences are being served at the same time. Knight filed a notice of appeal in May 2018. Pugh testified during William’s and Knight’s joint trial, which the prosecutor said was “crucial,” to the convictions. He also testified in front of the grand jury for an unrelated case The prosecutor recommended that Pugh be sentenced to eight and a half years with credit for time served. He said that he wanted Pugh to receive a benefit for his help but, believed that if Pugh had not been driving the car the night of the murder, Green would still be alive. The defense asked the judge to sentence Pugh to five years in prison with credit for time served and to also recommend that Pugh serve his sentence in a facility far away from the District because of the threats made to his life. No family or friends of Green were present in court to make victim impact statements. However, the family was at the sentence hearings for William and Knight. Pugh’s family was not in court. Pugh said his family has received death threats since his cooperation. “I accept full responsibility for what I did in all of this but, I did help and I did risk my safety and my families safety.” According to court documents, Pugh was driving the get away car on the night of the murder. After police found Pugh’s vehicle Pugh led them on a high speed chase for about 30 minutes. Apparently, Pugh also gave Williams the gun that killed Green. Green was not the intended target.

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