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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- March 15, 2017
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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The man police say arranged the botched robbery that led to the death of 37-year-old Matthew Shevlin has accepted a plea deal.
Eugene Sherman, 53, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in Shevlin’s murder. Sherman has now agreed to a plea agreement downgrading his charges to second-degree murder.
If the judge accepts the terms of the agreement, Sherman will be sentenced to 14-20 years in prison, a steep decline from the potential 40 years he would have served under a the usual parameters of a second-degree murder charge.
According to police, Sherman enlisted 18-year-old David Harvey and 35-year-old Joseph Jennings to break into an apartment in Mt. Vernon Square in order to steal marijuana.
According to documents detailing the event, the trio arrived at the apartment on 400 Block of M St., NW around 10 p.m. Jan. 22, 2016. Shevlin fled the apartment and after a struggle raced out into the courtyard where he was shot twice.
Shevlin was brought to a nearby hospital and succumbed to his injuries later that night. His cause of death was ruled multiple gunshot wounds and his murder was deemed a homicide.
In January, Jennings was sentenced to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder, per the terms of his plea agreement.
Harvey’s case is still pending, though Sherman previously pleaded in his defense in court, saying he alone orchestrated the robbery.
Sherman is being held without bond and is expected in court April 14 for sentencing.