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By
Sofia Feigelson [former]
- July 3, 2024
Burglary
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Court
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Daily Stories
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Sex Abuse
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stabbing
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Suspects
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A defendant accepted a global plea deal in front of DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe in connection to stabbing, kidnapping and sexual abuse incidents, during a July 2 hearing.
William Edwards, 26, was originally charged with first-degree burglary while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon – including a knife – kidnapping while armed, and robbery while armed for assaulting and stabbing a man while attempting to commit a robbery on Oct. 7, 2020 at the 400 block of Chaplin Street, SE.
Edwards was also charged with six counts of second-degree child sex abuse to victims under the age of 12 at the time of the offense for incidents that occurred in January and February 2018, and April 17, 2018.
Court documents state that Edwards is nine years older than the sexual abuse victims, one of which is partially blind.
At the hearing, Edwards’ attorneys, Kevin Mosley, Laura Rose, and Errin Scialpi, alerted Judge O’Keefe that Edwards would accept a deal, which required him to plead guilty to two counts of second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating factors and kidnapping, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.
Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentence of no more than 15 years imprisonment.
Judge O’Keefe reminded Edwards of the rights he would be giving up by pleading guilty, which Edwards acknowledged.
In regards to the kidnapping incident, the prosecution stated they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Edwards seized a victim around 1 a.m. with the purpose of committing a robbery. They added that, with the assistance of an accomplice, the victim was handcuffed and put into a bathroom stall for approximately three hours.
The prosecution also contended they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Edwards engaged in sexual activity involving two minors for sexual gratification.
The maximum penalty for kidnapping is 30 years, while second-degree child sex abuse carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.