A defendant accepted a plea deal for stabbing a victim with a folding knife before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on Dec. 8.
Dennis Christie, 49, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to commit robbery while armed for his involvement in a non-fatal stabbing on April 22, 2024 on the 4800 block of F Street, SE. The victim suffered a stab wound to his abdomen.
Lauckland Nicholas, Christie’s attorney, informed Judge Di Toro that Christie accepted a deal from the prosecution, which required him to plead guilty to assault with significant bodily injury and possession of a prohibited weapon. The prosecutor, in exchange, dismissed any greater and remaining charges and would not seek an indictment regarding the facts of the case.
The prosecutor said if the case proceeded to trial, they would have proved Christie knew the victim from prior interactions and approached him on the street on the day of the incident. They engaged in a verbal argument, Christie retrieved a folding knife from his pocket, stabbed the victim, and ran away. There was no legal justification for Christie’s actions and he was aware of the risk of significant bodily harm he caused.
According to the prosecutor, Christie stabbed the victim in the muscle surrounding his rib cage which required surgery and overnight hospital care.
Judge Di Toro determined there was a factual basis and accepted the plea as knowing and voluntary.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene for sentencing on Feb. 19, 2026.
