Defendant Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charges in Murder Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 1, 2021
Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

A defendant in a first-degree murder case pleaded guilty to lesser charges Thursday.

Defendant Dale Thomas, 30, was charged with allegedly stabbing 38-year-old Jelani Mohammed on the 1500 block of Benning Road, NE, along with co-defendant Donnell Mills, 31, on Nov. 8, 2018. The defendant was originally charged with second-degree murder in this case.

During the April 1 hearing, Thomas pleaded guilty to lesser charges of robbery, assault with the attempt to commit robbery, and conspiracy to commit a violent crime

The victim’s family members said Mohammed was a “kind, caring and loving” person who would have given the defendant anything he wanted, killing him was “unnecessary” and “senseless” and the family has been torn apart from the loss.

Thomas expressed remorse repeatedly during the hearing, saying he wished only to better himself in the future and to become a part of the community again.

Judge Milton C. Lee agreed with the prosecution’s recommendations for sentencing. For the charge of robbery and conspiracy to commit a violent crime, the judge sentenced the defendant to 60 months of incarceration. For assault with the attempt to commit robbery charge, the defendant was sentenced to 48 months incarceration.

The judge suspended all but 32 months due to time already served. Thomas will have to serve a little over six years in prison.

In addition, the defendant was ordered to three years of probation after incarceration, including completion of a drug treatment program, a mental health assessment, a GED program, and participation in vocational counseling and employment assistance for job readiness.

Judge Lee warned the defendant that if he violated his probation he would serve the full incarceration, no questions asked.

Mills was sentenced to 21 years in prison for second-degree murder while armed. Although he does not have any probation time, he is required to complete a drug treatment program and get mental health screening and evaluation, vocational counseling and training, grief counseling and transitional housing after he serves his time in prison.

This article was written by Alaina Provenza