Defendant Brought to Tears After Pleading Guilty to Assault

By Aerial Lopez [former] - February 22, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

During a Feb. 22 status hearing, the defendant in a firearms case pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after shooting a man in the foot.

The incident occurred Sept. 7, 2021, on the 200 block of 36th Street, SE. According to court documents, Ameer Culbreath, 48,  assaulted the victim while at a party. After a scuffle between the two, the defendant brandished a firearm in his direction. The victim, in an attempt to stop the attack, lunged forward and knocked the gun from Culbreath’s hand, discharging the weapon. The victim was struck in the foot from the stray shot.

Culbreath was arrested Sept. 12 on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.

According to a proffer of facts, the prosecutor said she had  witnesses who could  attest to the shooting and call into light the defendant’s criminal record. 

The attorney began to list each of Culbreath’s past offenses, but was interrupted by the defendant’s tears. 

During the reading of the charges, he leaned in toward his defense attorney, Adam D. Harris, and confided in him. The court marshal retrieved tissues for the defendant and DC Superior Court Judge Sean C. Staples called a brief intermission. 

Judge Staples said he wanted Culbreath to hear the prosecution’s words and understand with complete clarity the charges that he was pleading guilty to. 

Before the prosecution continued,  Harris told Judge Staples that Culbreath confessed that he was unaware that he had harmed the victim in this case and this was the first time Culbreath heard about the injuries he’d inflicted to the victim’s foot. 

The prosecution said the victim survived and has since received several surgeries to reconstruct the damage done to his foot. 

After seeing how this information negatively affected Culbreath, the prosecutor quickly wrapped up her closing statement and allowed Judge Staples to proceed with the hearing. 

Culbreath wiped his tears, sat up straight, and took a deep breath. He then assured Judge Staples that he was ready to continue with his guilty plea. 

The case will reconvene April 25 for sentencing.