Co-Defendant Receives 16-year Sentence in 2007 Homicide

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 26, 2018
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A co-defendant was sentenced Oct. 25 to 16 years in prison for fatally shooting and robbing a man in 2007.

Kadeem Quarles pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for shooting and robbing Timothy Spicer on the 1100 block of Howard Road, SE. Quarles, 27, initially pled guilty in April but withdrew his plea in September because he was skeptical of the deal he made. DC Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff gave Quarles extra time to speak with new counsel and consider the plea. Quarles ended up moving forward with his original plea. 

Timothy Spicer

According to court documents, a witness said Quarles, along with 27-year-old Maurice Blakey, Randolph Williams and an unnamed individual, robbed Spicer, 25, at the Anacostia Metro Station. The witness said Quarles’ girlfriend allegedly orchestrated a set-up, convincing Spicer to meet her there.

When Spicer arrived, he was shot twice, crashing his vehicle before fleeing inside the metro station. Quarles and Williams, 27, allegedly drove Spicer’s car, a 1994 Chevrolet Caprice, from the scene.

Police pursued the 1994 Chevrolet Caprice in a chase. Both Quarles and Williams were seen fleeing the car. Williams was arrested shortly after. Quarles, on the other hand, was able to escape by foot.

Years later, a witness placed Quarles at the scene of the robbery and he was officially charged with murder in 2016.

“Because of Quarles’ decision, one life was lost, and the trajectory of multiple people’s lives changed … He has the ability to rebuild his life,” the prosecutor said, requesting a sentence of 20 years.

Quarles’ defense attorney, Justin Okezie, said the defendant was barely 16 when he committed the crime and asked for the lower end of the sentencing range, which was 16 years. Okezie argued that after the shooting, Quarles wasn’t charged for anything nearly as significant.

“He has started his road to recovery,” Okezie said. “He came from a tough neighborhood, and he never blamed Barry Farms.”

Judge Bartnoff said that given Quarles age at the time of the crime and the role he played, 16 years was an appropriate sentence. “I’m sure it’s the case that 27-year-old Mr. Quarles has changed from 16-year-old Mr. Quarles,” the judge said.

Quarles has been held since 2016 and will receive credit for time served. He is also required to serve five years on supervised release after his sentence.