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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- March 19, 2019
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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A murder defendant requested new defense counsel after he said he did not receive good advice from his attorney about a pre-indictment plea deal. As a result of the allegation, the defendant’s attorney filed a motion to withdraw.
Ricardo Daquan Boston is charged with first-degree murder while armed and obstruction of justice, among other offenses, for his alleged role in the shooting of 20-year-old Dante Coleman on the 3900 block of First Street, SE in 2017.
A prosecutor said she offered a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter while armed, which carries a sentencing range of 10-15 years before an indictment was filed on Nov. 7, 2018. However, after the indictment, the prosecutor said she would offer a plea of second-degree murder while armed. If Boston, 24, decides to take the deal, he could serve up to 16 years in prison.
Boston claims he did not understand the terms of the pre-indictment plea.
During the hearing on March 19, defense attorney Keith Irving said Boston wanted a new attorney because of allegations of ineffective counsel. Irving filed the motion to withdraw on March 12.
Judge Todd Edelman said he would grant Irving’s motion in a few days once a new attorney was appointed.
Judge Edelman also said this was not the first time Boston was appointed a new attorney. According to court documents, attorney Gabriel Diaz was dismissed from Boston’s case in June of 2018.
Court documents state that Coleman was found by police with a gunshot wound to the head. Surveillance footage shows Boston pointing an object believed by prosecutors to be a gun at Coleman. A witness said that Coleman and Boston were in a room with the doors closed when gunshots were fired.
A status hearing is set on April 8.