DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel sentenced a 20-year-old shooting and carjacking defendant under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) to 12 years of imprisonment on July 31.
Aaron Tolliver, 20, pleaded guilty on Aug. 18, 2025 to aggravated assault knowingly while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a shooting on Feb. 8, 2025 on the 2600 block of Stanton Road, SE. A juvenile victim sustained a gunshot wound to his left calf.
In a separate case, Tolliver pleaded guilty on the same date to unarmed carjacking and robbery for his involvement in a carjacking on Dec. 22, 2024 on the 1700 block of 4th Street, NW and a robbery on Dec. 23, 2024 on the 1300 block of Florida Avenue, NW.
Tolliver’s sentencing was delayed to allow him to complete high school at the DC Jail.
As part of the plea deal, parties agreed to a 12 year total prison sentence for both of Tolliver’s cases, five years for the shooting and seven years for the carjacking. The sentences were under rule 11c1C and subject to Judge Israel’s approval at sentencing.
According to the prosecution, Tolliver approached a young woman with a gun and carjacked her. Tolliver later shot another person with a firearm in a separate offense, noted the prosecutor and described his actions as “severe conduct that has been escalating.”
The prosecution requested Judge Israel honor the 12 year sentence under the 11c1C and authorize supervised release for Tolliver. The prosecutor also argued against sentencing Tolliver under the YRA, emphasizing the seriousness of the offenses.
The YRA allows sentencing flexibility for defendants who commit crimes under the age of 25. Under the YRA, a judge can impose sentences below the mandatory minimums and offenders have the opportunity to have their convictions sealed upon successful completion of requirements.
Tolliver’s attorney, Lauren Morehouse, stated that Tolliver used his time at the jail to “put his money where his mouth is.” Morehouse emphasized that Tolliver graduated high school with straight A’s despite learning disabilities. In addition, Morehouse said Tolliver accepted responsibility for his actions and demonstrated self-reflection and personal growth over the past two years.
Morehouse asked Judge Israel to accept the 11c1C agreement, sentence Tolliver under the YRA, and impose probation instead of supervised release.
Tolliver then read a letter to Judge Israel in which he apologized to the victims and their families for the trauma he caused. He expressed remorse for his actions and said he hopes to learn a trade so he can find employment after his release.
Judge Israel said she was “on the fence” about applying the YRA because the offenses were committed months apart and involved multiple victims. However, she said Tolliver had shown maturity by completing high school, adding that his progress reflected “the underpinning of the reasons YRA exists” by giving young defendants an opportunity to grow.
Judge Israel decided to honor the 11c1C agreement and concluded that YRA sentencing was appropriate. In the carjacking case, she sentenced Tolliver to seven years in prison for carjacking and five-and-a-half years for robbery, to run concurrently.
In the shooting case, Judge Israel sentenced Tolliver to five years in prison for aggravated assault and five years for possession of a firearm, to run concurrently.
The sentences in the two cases will run consecutively, totaling 12 years, followed by three years of supervised release.
Judge Israel explained that in order to receive the benefit of the YRA sentence, Tolliver must complete 200 hours of community service on supervised release. He is also required to register as a gun offender upon his release.
No further hearings dates were set.
