DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean sentenced a carjacking defendant to seven years in prison on Feb 23.
Michael Mitchell, 34, pleaded guilty on Dec. 10 to unarmed carjacking and possession of a prohibited weapon for his involvement in a carjacking that occurred on the 3000 block of 4th Street, SE, on April 29, 2025. He also pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property for his involvement in an unrelated matter.
At the sentencing, the prosecution asked Judge McLean for the mandatory minimum sentence, which according to DC Sentencing Commission’s sentencing guidelines, was seven years.
The prosecution also spoke on behalf of the carjacking victim, saying he remains unemployed after the incident. Formerly a delivery driver, the man is now too traumatized to return to work and is struggling to provide for his family. According to the prosecutor, the victim suffers from persistent nightmares.
The prosecution also noted the increasing violence of the defendant’s actions, escalating from robbery to carjacking, and requested a stay-away order from the victims if Mitchell is granted probation.
In a statement on Mitchell’s behalf, defense attorney Anthony Dimillio said that Mitchell has had a difficult life. He said that all of Mitchell’s charges occurred at once, indicating that he does not have an extensive criminal history, but rather made a few bad decisions. Although Dimillio linked Mitchell’s actions to his mother’s death, he did not indicate when she died.
Mitchell apologized to the court and the victims of both the robbery and the carjacking, stating he took full responsibility for his actions. He specifically apologized for the delivery driver’s job loss, of which he was not aware.
Judge McLean said she appreciated his apology and taking responsibility for his mistakes. She acknowledged Mitchell’s own trauma but noted it does not excuse the ordeal he inflicted on others..
Judge McLean said Mitchell requested a second chance and a probationary sentence in his letter to the court, but she ruled that this was not an option.
She explained that she is technically bound by the terms of the plea agreement and the mandatory minimum sentence.
Judge McLean sentenced Mitchell to seven years in prison for unarmed carjacking, six months in prison for possession of a prohibited weapon, and six months in prison for receiving stolen property. The sentences are scheduled to run concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release. Mitchell must also register as a gun offender for two years after his release
No further dates were set.
