A carjacking defendant accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on June 2.
Tamika Burriss, 36, was initially charged with armed carjacking for her involvement in an incident on Feb. 17, 2024 on the 100 block of Kennedy Street, NW.
During the hearing, Quiana Harris, Burriss’ attorney, alerted the court of her intent to accept a deal, which required her to plead guilty to assault with intent to rob while armed, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking indictment on greater charges.
Through the deal, prosecutors agreed to request a sentence at the bottom of the sentencing guidelines. According to the prosecution, had the case gone to trial, they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Burriss was the perpetrator in the incident. Prosecutors claimed surveillance footage, in which Burriss identified herself, and witness statements placed Burriss at the scene.
Harris filed a motion for release pending sentencing, arguing that Burriss needed to care for her children, citing her record of three misdemeanors and no violent offenses. Judge Hertzfeld denied the motion after the prosecution referenced a resolved 2016 case in which she allegedly threatened to commit bodily harm with a knife against another individual.
According to Harris, the victim of the carjacking called Burriss over to the car in the moments leading up to the incident. Judge Hertzfeld was unmoved by the allegation, replying, “I don’t think that changes the calculus here,” and denied the request for release.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 7.
