Murder Defendant Accepts Aggravated Assault Plea

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A murder defendant was sobbing as she accepted a prosecutor’s plea deal Dec. 4.

Michael “Miesha” Hines was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed with a firearm for shooting Wendell Youngblood, 46, on the 1500 block of North Capitol Street, NE on Aug. 3. Hines, 23, is a transgender woman.

Hines pleaded guilty to an aggravated assault charge and two counts of simple assault for two unrelated cases.

One of the simple assault charges was for aiding and abetting the assault of a victim with a bat in August. The victim suffered a contusion on her head and received 14 stitches after this incident.

The second simple assault charge was for Hines’ involvement in assaulting a victim with another individual by beating them in the face and body in June of 2018.

According to a proffer of facts presented by the prosecution, Hines shot Youngblood five times. She claims that Youngblood attempted to rob her and the first four gunshots were in self-defense. She said the fatal shot was in the heat of the moment after someone told her “Bust his ass again”.

In addition to these charges, there was also a possession of a prohibited weapon charge, however, the prosecutor dismissed this charge in light of the circumstances surrounding this case.

Hines was barely audible during the court proceeding because she could not stop crying.

A sentencing is scheduled to occur on Feb. 28, 2020.

Hines is currently being held at DC Jail.