Defendant Accepts Plea Agreement in a 2015 Shooting Case

By Izabella Apodaca [former] - November 11, 2023
Daily Stories | Shooting | Suspects |

On Nov. 9, a defendant accepted a plea offer before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein. 

Timothy Dugger, 37, was originally charged with assault with intent to kill, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and aggravated assault knowingly while armed for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on Sept. 11, 2015. The incident left one individual suffering from life-threatening injuries. 

Dugger accepted an offer that required him to plead guilty to aggravated assault knowingly while armed, in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges and a sentence of 108 months in prison.

According to the prosecution, had the case gone to trial, there would be evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Dugger shot the victim. 

The prosecution submitted a proffer of the crime as they believe it occurred which stated Dugger picked up the victim, his fiance, and a child from a Metro station. He dropped off the victim at a residence and when the victim attempted to re-approach the vehicle, the defendant pulled out a gun and shot at the victim three times. 

Judge Epstein confirmed that he was satisfied with the defendant’s understanding of his terms and he accepted the guilty plea as it was “knowingly and voluntary”.

Dugger’s defense attorney, Dana Page, asked the court to accept the 108 month sentence that was outlined in the plea agreement. Page stated that Dugger received his GED and some college while incarcerated. She stated Dugger has made significant changes to his life while being incarcerated for eight years and two months in this case and has received multiple certificates in HVAC training and creative writing. 

Page also stated that Dugger has multiple letters from individuals advocating on his behalf, one specifically from a man whose life was saved by Dugger. According to the letter, in an incident while incarcerated, Dugger provided life-saving care that stopped major bleeding from this individual, which ultimately saved his life. 

A second letter shared with the court was from an individual who stated they are willing to employ Dugger upon his release as a porter, where he would work as a groundskeeper and trash collector at a specific location. Based on these circumstances, Page asked the court to accept the 108 month sentence that would be served concurrently to a previous sentence in a separate case and would get credit for time served. 

Dugger addressed the court himself and stated that he has “big remorse” for what he did, and “I feel like I have been rehabilitated and I am trying to get back home and do the right thing.”

Judge Epstein accepted the sentence outlined in the plea agreement and imposed the nine year sentence. Epstein ordered for the sentence to run concurrent with his other sentence. He is also required to register as a gun offender, and must pay $100 to the victim’s fund within five years. 

Dugger currently has 10 months left to serve and he will remain on supervised release for a total of five years once released.