A defendant pleaded guilty to stabbing his child’s mother before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on March 17.
Mark Henry, 38, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for a stabbing at the intersection of Sycamore and Oak Drive, SE on Nov. 10, 2025.
According to court documents, Henry and the victim have a 14-year-old child together. The victim sustained two puncture wounds and one laceration to the left side of her torso.
At the hearing, Henry said he did not believe the number was accurate because he only recalls swinging the knife once. However, he could not confirm how many wounds he believed the victim received.
“I didn’t see any wounds,” Henry said.
Henry accepted a deal that required him to plead guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon. In exchange, the prosecutors agreed to limit Henry’s sentence to the bottom third of the sentencing guidelines and to not seek an indictment with additional charges.
Despite the disagreement, Henry confirmed with Judge Hertzfeld that the prosecution would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that he stabbed the victim after a verbal argument if the case went to trial.
Henry’s defense attorney, Tonya Harris, requested that Henry’s mental health history, which the defense wants to argue in support of a lesser sentence, be considered separately from his competency to stand trial. To go on trial, a defendant must understand the charges and be able to help his attorney.
Judge Hertzfeld said Harris would need to submit a request to the pre-sentence report writers.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene for sentencing on May 18.
