Defendant Pleads Guilty to Two Charges, Remaining Four Dropped

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 22, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

On July 22, a defendant pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license and attempted possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Anthony Barnes, 20, was arrested in July 2019 after Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found him in possession of a firearm. Barnes did not own a license to carry a firearm, nor was he old enough be in possession of one. Barnes was charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or place of business, possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

As a part of his plea deal, Barnes pleaded guilty to two of the six charges. The remaining four charges were dropped. 

While on pretrial release, Barnes was arrested on the 3500 block of 14th Street, NW, a location that he was ordered to stay away from in another case. When he was stopped, officers found about eight grams of cocaine in his pocket and about $300 in cash, according to the prosecution’s proffer of facts.

Defense attorney Thomas Lester asked DC Superior Court Judge Judith Smith to release his client after he pleaded guilty during the July 22 proceedings. Lester said detention during the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant stress on his client.

He also said that Barnes has begun working on his GED, and that, if released, he would have a stable home to stay in with his mother.

However, Judge Smith denied the request, saying that Barnes’ stress is a common one for inmates at the moment. She also pointed to the quick succession of three felony cases over the last year, two of which came while he was on release for the first.

Barnes will remain in DC Jail pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for Oct. 8. During that time a doctor will evaluate him to see if he should be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act.