Defendant Sentenced to Three Years for Non-Fatal Drive-By Shooting

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DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld sentenced Angela Milhouse to three years in prison on Nov. 1 for a drive-by shooting after the defendant pleaded guilty to five out of eleven charges.

Milhouse, 59, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, endangerment with a firearm, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, destruction of property worth $1,000 or more, simple assault, carrying a pistol without a license outside her home or business, two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. The charges stemmed from her involvement in a non-fatal shooting incident that occurred on Oct. 6, 2023, on the 5000 block of Astor Place, SE. No one was injured.

Milhouse accepted a plea deal on Aug. 22 acknowledging assault with a dangerous weapon, endangerment with a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. In return, the prosecution agreed to dismiss all other charges and cap their sentencing request at the midpoint of the sentencing guidelines.

Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of 18-to-60 months of incarceration.

The prosecution showed the court surveillance video of the incident. During the drive-by shooting into a house, Milhouse first targeted an unintended victim. Then attempted to shoot her intended target,

“I take full responsibility for everything I did, Your honor,” Milhouse told the court. “God, please forgive me.”

She continued, “I thank God every night I didn’t hurt nobody,” Milhouse said, “It could’ve been so much worse, and it tears me apart.”

The prosecution said Milhouse described how there have been “long-standing issues not addressed” even without any criminal history. They requested 42 months of incarceration with 36 months suspended, and 36 months of supervised release.

Defense attorney Quo Mieko Judkins said Milhouse had a different upbringing than most and still suffers from trauma, even with strong family support now. Judkins suggested 36 months of incarceration with part of the sentence suspended so the defendant could get help for substance abuse and mental health, along with her chronic conditions and recent brain aneurysm.

“I can’t imagine what provoked this,” said Judge Hertzfeld. She said it is evident the defendant doesn’t know either, but she will have time to figure it out.

“You will never ever… hear my name in this court ever again,” promised the defendant before hearing the verdict.

Judge Hertzfeld sentenced Milhouse to 30 months for the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon, with six months suspended. That sentence will run concurrently with a sentence of 24 months for the charge of endangerment with a firearm. Both sentences carry with them 6 months of probation and 3 years of supervised release.

These sentences will run consecutively with the sentences for the three firearm charges, which run concurrently for 12 months.

In addition, Milhouse will have to register as a gun offender for two years after her release and pay $350 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund.

No further dates were set.