DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld sentenced a non-fatal stabbing defendant to 32 months of imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release on Feb. 10.
Andrew Wooten, 40, pleaded guilty on Dec. 10, 2025 to assault with significant bodily injury while armed for his involvement in a stabbing on Aug. 7, 2025 on the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
At sentencing, the prosecution read an impact statement on behalf of the victim who said that he lives in constant fear and is afraid to open his door to strangers. He also explained that he sustained significant injuries and was stabbed three inches into his brain changing his life forever.
Prosecutors explained that the victim suffered from a brain bleed and skull fracture as a result of the stabbing. Due to the severity of the injuries, the prosecution argued that 32 months of imprisonment and three months of supervised release would be appropriate.
Wooten’s attorney, Todd Baldwin, argued that the victim was “not innocent.” Baldwin claimed that Wooten was standing at a bus stop when the victim confronted him. Wooten was previously assaulted and beaten by the victim, according to Baldwin.
Baldwin explained that there was video footage of Wooten waiting at the bus stop that clearly showed the victim confronting him, within inches of Wooten’s face. According to Baldwin, Wooten pulled the knife out after the victim confronted him.
Although Wooten had a long criminal history, most were misdemeanors, according to Baldwin. Wooten was charged for aggravated assault in 2020, said Baldwin, but noted the case was ultimately dismissed by prosecutors and he was exonerated.
Baldwin suggested that a lengthy prison sentence would just “warehouse” his client and that there are other ways to help Wooten including probation that would help Wooten find housing and connect him with mental health services.
Wooten was given the opportunity to speak and said he was “very apologetic” for pulling a knife on the victim. The past six months in DC Jail was the “closest thing to hell on earth” that Wooten has experienced. He was shivering in his cell, even with three wool blankets, according to Wooten.
Judge Hertzfeld agreed that the DC Jail is a “terrible place to be.” The judge noted Wooten committed the stabbing while he was on probation for a previous offense. Due to his refusal to comply with probation orders in the past, Judge Hertzfeld said she was not confident it would be different this time.
Judge Hertzfeld sentenced Wooten to 32 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
“Good luck to you sir,” Judge Hertzfeld told Wooten.
No further dates were set.
