Defendants in 2014 Homicide Case Mull Over Plea Deal

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 26, 2018
Homicides | Suspects | Uncategorized |

The 2014 homicide case of Willard Carlos Shelton is still in limbo as of Jan. 26 because both defendants are currently considering a plea deal presented by the government less than a week ago.

James Young and Tyrone Height have been charged with five counts of first-degree murder while armed and three counts of felony murder while armed, amongst other charges, in the shooting death of Shelton, 38, a resident of Alexandria, Va., on Aug. 31, 2014. The Metropolitan Police Department found Shelton, suffering from gunshot wounds, on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, SE. Young, 24, and Height, 25, were apprehended on Sept. 3, 2014.

At a recent status hearing the defendants expressed interest in a government plea deal, but according to their lawyers, they needed more time to review the paperwork and make a decision.

We “definitely need to go over the paperwork,” Joseph Caleb, the attorney for Height said. Caleb said he wanted to get a clearer direction, but his client is prepared to accept a plea deal.

Judge Milton Lee emphasized that he did not want to add extra pressure to the defendants or anyone else in the case, but he did make it clear, especially to the defendants, that a decision had to be made. Judge Lee asked the prosecution on Jan. 22, when the plea deal was offered, to give the defendants a week to make a decision.

Height told Judge Lee that he was feeling pressured because he has been in the courtroom twice within one week about making a decision in regard to the plea deal. Height said he would feel more comfortable with making a decision on Jan. 29.

“It’s a decision of my life,” he said. “I mean why wouldn’t I?”

Ferris Bond, the attorney for Young, said that even though his client was familiar with his rights, they would like to have time to go over the paperwork.

The court addressed the plea deal after the defendants were granted time, by Judge Lee, to discuss their case together in a private setting.

Both parties are scheduled to address the plea deal with a definitive decision before Judge Lee at 9 a.m. on Jan. 29. Caleb assured the judge that he would be in communication with the prosecution throughout the weekend about the defendants’ final decision.

If a plea deal is not reached, a trial is set for March 13.