Defendant Agrees to Guilty Plea in Death of One-Year-Old

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On Aug. 14, Brian Wooden accepted a plea offer extended by prosecutors in the death of an infant.

Wooden, 33, was originally charged with two counts of felony murder in which the victim was especially vulnerable due to age or physical infirmity, and two counts of first-degree cruelty to children in connection to the murder of his then-girlfriend’s one-year-old son, Carter Sanders. The incident occurred on May 16, 2018, on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE.

On July 31, 2019, Wooden was released from DC Jail as he awaited the resolution of the case. His release conditions prohibited him from possessing any weapons, which he allegedly violated. He was detained on Nov. 30, 2022, and a federal case was brought against him for possession of a firearm.

During the Aug. 14 hearing, prosecutors explained that the plea offer extended to Wooden would reduce one of the felony murder charges to voluntary manslaughter in return for dismissal of all other charges, including his federal gun possession charge.

Wooden’s defense attorney, Marnitta King, and prosecutors agreed to a ten year sentence, with all but eight years suspended, and a five year supervised release suspended.

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt reminded Wooden that if he accepted the offer, she could still sentence him up to the 30 years maximum sentencing guideline for voluntary manslaughter.

Wooden told Judge Brandt he agreed to waive his rights in return for the plea and that he understands the sentence he is facing.

Judge Brandt accepted Wooden’s guilty plea, and scheduled a sentencing hearing for Jan. 5.

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