Thank you for reading D.C. Witness.
Help us continue our mission into 2025 by donating to our end of year campaign.
By
Nicole Hansen [former]
- January 19, 2024
Daily Stories
|
Non-Fatal Shooting
|
Suspects
|
On Jan. 19, DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park accepted the defense’s request to delay the sentencing of a shooting defendant.
Antwann Carter, 25, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, with the offenses committed during release, for his involvement in an incident on the 2700 block of 22nd Street, NE, on July 21, 2019.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) documents state that Carter attempted forced entry to multiple vehicles, assaulting and shooting individuals who confronted him. Two victims sustained injuries, which were not life-threatening.
On Oct. 25, Carter pled guilty to charges of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carjacking, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.
Upon Carter’s plea, the prosecution agreed to limit sentencing to five years for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and seven years for carjacking. During the hearing, defense attorney Johnathan Armstrong requested a delayed sentencing, due to issues of communication with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
Both defense and prosecution indicated they understood Carter’s time served while awaiting sentencing would be credited in his plea deal, but BOP indicated to Armstrong that this was not the case.
Prosecution suggested that because Carter accepted the deal believing that his time served would reduce his sentence, the court should appoint a new attorney for Carter on the grounds of Armstrong’s “ineffectiveness.”
Judge Park requested a written status update outlining stances on the matter with BOP from both parties by Feb. 23. Park agreed to appoint a new attorney for Carter if Armstrong misrepresented sentencing information to the defendant.
The case will reconvene for a new, and ostensibly final, sentencing hearing on March 1.