Defendant Rejects Pre-Preliminary Plea Offer in Murder Case

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A homicide defendant who allegedly shot a 42-year-old man rejected a pre-preliminary plea offer. 

Jarrell Harris, 27, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting of 42-year-old Sedrick Miller on March 4 on the 2000 block of 18th Street, NE. Miller was carrying a baby and holding the hand of a 5-year-old girl when he was murdered, according to court documents. Harris was arrested a month later and held at DC Jail.

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt presided over the June 13 hearing, where Harris rejected the prosecution’s offer, which included a sentence between 10-and-a half to 13 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter while armed. Under the terms of the agreement, the prosecution would have also dropped any other charges.

By rejecting the offer, Harris faces a potential minimum of 30 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison if a jury finds him guilty. 

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 9.