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By
Hunter Fernandez [former]
- March 18, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Sex Abuse
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Sexual Assault
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Suspects
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During a sentencing hearing on March 17, the defense requested DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee not imprison a defendant for a sex abuse charge to protect his mental health and provide him with the resources that he needs.
Justin Mathis, 24, is charged with third-degree sex abuse for attempting to sexually assault a woman on the janitorial staff of The Wharf located on the 1100 block of Maine Avenue, SW on Sept. 23, 2022.
At the hearing, Mathis’ defense attorney, Megan Allburn, asked that Judge Lee fully suspend the sentence and place the defendant on probation.
Allburn referred to Mathis’ traumatic childhood and untreated mental health problems as justifying his actions. She also stated that shame and guilt were drastically affecting his mental well-being.
“This is literally buckling him at the knees,” she stated.
The prosecution said the effect of Mathis’ actions on the victim is much greater than the impact of his shame.
“There is another person who is feeling pain and terror on a daily basis,” the prosecutor said.
The prsecutor requested that Mathis serve a year and a half in prison and a year and a half on supervised probation.
He agreed that Mathis could change his ways and learn from his mistakes. Still, a criminal sentence was justified.
Judge Lee began his sentencing by reprimanding Mathis for failing to comply with the conditions of his release one week before his sentencing.
He sentenced Mathis to 2 years, 4 months of which would be served, for third-degree sex abuse. As Mathis had already spent 30 days in jail, Judge Lee only required that he serve the remaining 90 days of the sentence.
“You are redeemable,” Judge Lee repeated throughout the hearing.
The judge also required that Mathis register as a sex offender for 10 years, regularly drug test, get his GED, and seek mental health treatment. A stay-away order was also issued for the wharf.