A stabbing defendant accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on Feb. 23.
Latanya Leonard, 55, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for her involvement in a domestic stabbing that occurred on the 300 block of N Street, NE on Jan. 13.
According to court documents, Leonard and the victim got into an argument where she reportedly accused him of killing a woman. Leonard then grabbed a knife and allegedly slashed him and calling him names. The victim sustained several cuts to his arm and a cut to his face.
During the hearing, Leonard accepted a plea deal from prosecutors that required her to plead guilty to simple assault, possession of a prohibited weapon, and two counts of misdemeanor contempt. As part of her plea agreement, Leonard pleaded guilty to an additional count of simple assault in a separate case.
In exchange, the prosecution agreed to dismiss the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon and three separate domestic violence cases against Leonard. Prosecutors also agreed to not seek an indictment with additional charges in any of the four cases.
After finding Leonard understood her rights and knowingly pleaded guilty, Judge Hertzfeld accepted her guilty plea.
Had the case gone to trial, the prosecution said they would have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the day of the offense, Leonard unlawfully assaulted the victim with a kitchen knife by slashing him.
They also would have proved that in December 2025, Leonard violated court orders to not engage in any aggravated or threatening behavior towards the victim and to keep at least 100 yards away from the victim, his home, and place of employment.
Louis Kamara, Leonard’s attorney, requested Judge Hertzfeld release Leonard with GPS monitoring because she was at risk of being evicted. Judge Hertzfeld denied the request because Leonard pleaded guilty, stating Leonard would remain detained pending sentencing.
The parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 27 for sentencing.
