Defense Attorney Says His Client is, ‘Motivated to Turn His Life Around,’ During Sentencing

By Mackenzie Konjoyan , Vivien Williams - June 13, 2024
Carjacking | Daily Stories |

DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian sentenced a defendant to 13 years of incarceration for his involvement in a carjacking, armed robbery, and theft incident.  The ruling came in a June 13 hearing.

Ricardo Washington, 33, was involved in a series of carjackings between Sept. 27 and Nov. 29 ,2023. He was charged with unarmed carjacking when he stole a car after demanding keys from a complainant on Sept. 27 in the Union Station parking garage. 

Washington was also charged with armed robbery for threatening another individual with a screwdriver when stealing a vehicle at the same location on Oct. 28. 

He was charged with first-degree theft on Nov. 29 after being caught looking through the trunk of a reportedly stolen vehicle on the 1200 block of Gallatin Street, NE.

In a deal accepted by Washington on March 29, he pleaded guilty to unarmed carjacking, armed robbery and first-degree theft, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment and dismissing all other charges. . 

Clarence Powell, Washington’s defense attorney, said that Washington was not in the right state of mind due to drug addiction during these incidents. 

“The drug use got the best of him and contributed to his homelessness and poor decisions,” claimed Powell.

Throughout the legal process, Powell said, Washington’s family has been present and have described Washington’s actions as out of character from his kind, loving and hardworking nature. They agree that Washington could benefit from substance abuse and mental health treatment completed without a prison sentence.

“I believe Mr. Washington is motivated, if given a chance, to turn his life around. He just needs help,” Powell said.

According to Powell,  Washington has made clear in their meetings that he misses his children deeply and is remorseful.

When Judge Christian asked Washington what gave him the right to steal property, Washington responded saying, “I’m sorry for what I did Judge. I’m sorry.”

Judge Christian worried about the wellbeing of the victims and the lifelong fear he believed they would experience, choosing the final sentencing based on that finding.

“What these victims have been through must have been terrifying,” Judge Christian said.

The prosecution agreed, citing the mental trauma suffered by the victims due to Washington’s actions.

“It wasn’t just a vehicle or scooters that were taken but also their sense of safety and peace,” the prosecution said.

Prosecutors also argued that the nature of the crimes being consecutive offenses warranted a higher sentence and would never have ended without police intervention.

“It’s likely it would not have stopped if the defendant had not been arrested,” the prosecution said.

In agreement Judge Christian sentenced Washington to consecutive sentences, totaling 13 years of incarceration. He is also required to participate in drug and mental health treatment, and serve five years of supervised release. 

No further dates were set.