DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt gave a murder defendant the maximum sentence, 15 years of incarceration, during a hearing on Aug. 1.
Deandre Miles, 30, was originally charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and destruction of property worth $1,000 or more. The charges stemmed from his involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Davon Fuller on the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue, NE, on Oct. 16, 2023.
At a previous hearing, Miles’ defense attorneys, Kevin Robertson and Kyle McGonigal, informed Judge Brandt that Miles had accepted a plea deal. The terms required Miles to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and malicious destruction of property, in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges. Parties agreed to a sentencing range of seven-to-15 years of incarceration.
Davon Fullers’ family expressed their opposition to the sentencing range in their victim statements to the court.
Fuller’s youngest sister told Judge Brandt the family still experiences great anger and sadness. She said the sentencing range feels like “a slap in the face” and “a joke.”
Fuller’s stepfather told Judge Brandt he was speaking “straight from the heart” to oppose the sentencing range because “these types of people are a threat to themselves and others.”
Fuller’s oldest sister complained that there are “many loopholes” in the justice system for murderers. She expressed grief and disbelief that her other brother was imprisoned for 19 years for a crime in which no one was injured, while the sentence for Fuller’s murder was capped at 15 years.
Judge Brandt acknowledged each of Fuller’s family members’ statements and told them how sorry she was for their loss.
The prosecutor asked Judge Brandt to impose the maximum sentence arguing that Miles had many opportunities to walk away from the situation but chose not to.
Robertson asked for the minimum sentence because Miles confessed “the truth without any evidence.” He said Miles wanted to address the court to express how “he wishes he could go back.”
Miles thanked Judge Brandt for letting him have the opportunity to speak. He offered his “deepest apologies” to the Fuller family and his own family as well, and said that he regrets continuing Black-on-lack violence.
Miles told the court that his past trauma influenced his life, and he is getting mental health treatment while incarcerated. He said he is not the same person he used to be, and he is trying to become a better man by making use of the resources available in prison.
“Please allow me to prove my redemption,” Miles said to Judge Brandt.
Judge Brandt thanked Miles for his words and expressed regret that people have to be incarcerated to get help. She acknowledged both the healing and the hurt in the courtroom, experienced by the defendant and the family of the victim.
The judge sentenced Miles to 15 years of incarceration for voluntary manslaughter while armed, to run concurrently with a sentence of 12 months for destruction of property worth $1,000 or more.
Judge Brandt concluded the hearing with the words, “Don’t lose hope, Mr. Miles.”
No further dates were set in this case.
