The prosecution placed two plea offers on the record for homicide co-defendants before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on April 24.
Juvan Alston, 24, and Davon Alston, 23, are charged with conspiracy, first-degree premeditated murder while armed, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition, Juvan is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than a year and Davon with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Dennis Simms on the 800 block of Yuma Street, SE on July 1, 2022. Simms died from one shot to his head.
Stephen LoGerfo, Juvan’s attorney, informed parties that the Department of Corrections (DOC) transported his client back to the DC Jail after he refused to attend the hearing.
The prosecutors informed Judge Kravitz that parties continued to negotiate a potential plea deal. According to the prosecutors, they extended a deal in September 2025 that would require Juvan and Davon both plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed. In exchange, the prosecution would dismiss any greater or remaining charges and limit their sentence request to the midpoint of the guidelines.
At the request of the defense, prosecutors said they coordinated with prosecutors in Prince George’s County, MD to offer a global plea deal that would resolve the defendants’ cases in both jurisdictions. According to prosecutors, the defendants face charges for allegedly carjacking a vehicle in Maryland that prosecutors claim they later used to shoot Simms in DC.
The prosecutor said the global deal they extended on April 8 would require both defendants to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed in the present cases and motor vehicle theft in their Maryland cases. In exchange, the prosecution would dismiss all remaining charges in both cases, agree for the sentences to run concurrently, and dismiss Juvan and Davon’s unrelated cases stemming from separate incidents at the DC Jail in October 2025.
The deals were set to expire at the hearing, but prosecutors said they would extend the deadline to April 29. If they are not signed at that time, the prosecution said they will no longer negotiate due to the trial date scheduled for June 8.
Madalyn Harvey, Davon’s attorney, said the situation was “not as clear cut as [the prosecutor] says.” According to Harvey, other versions of the deals existed and she had not discussed the offers at length with her client. Harvey also anticipated that issues in her current homicide trial for another client would prevent her from discussing the offers with Davon before the new deadline, but she would do her best.
The prosecutors inquired whether Davon’s other attorney, Henry Druschel, could discuss the offers, but Harvey said she had to be present. The prosecutor requested Judge Kravitz require Harvey to meet with Davon about the deal by the deadline and said Harvey was “frankly manipulating the system.”
Harvey responded that the prosecutor’s comment was “not appropriate.”
Judge Kravitz noted the defendants’ constitutional rights to receive effective assistance of counsel regarding plea offers.
Harvey concluded that if she could make time to visit the jail she would and if not, prosecutors would rescind the offer. LoGerfo noted that he discussed the deals with Juvan but could not move forward without his presence.
The parties are scheduled to reconvene on April 30.
