‘He Was There Behind the Scenes,’ Judge Says in Sentencing Man to More Than 100 Years in Conspiracy, Murder Case

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DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced a defendant who provided the guns for a shooting to 108 years and six months in prison on Sept. 19.

Stephen Nelson, 22, was convicted on July 10 of conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed, assault with the intent to kill while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of an unregistered firearm in connection to the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes on March 1, 2020, on the 600 block of S Street, NW. Another juvenile sustained injuries after suffering a gunshot wound to the leg.

Nelson was charged alongside Koran Jackson, 23, Tyiion Kyree Freeman, 24, who were sentenced to 164 and 108 years of incarceration.

Judge Brandt said the jury found Nelson responsible for the shooting due to his role in providing the guns to Jackson, Freeman and the other co-conspirators. She said phone and text conversations showed he knew how the guns were being used.

“He was there behind the scenes,” Judge Brandt said.

Judge Brandt said that while Nelson did not pull the trigger, the jury found he was involved in the murder and conspiracy and she had to sentence him according to that. She laid out a sentence of 108 years and six months in prison.

“It would be unfair to give Mr. Nelson a different sentence than his colleagues,” Judge Brandt said.

Before the judge gave the sentence, Nelson turned to the victim’s family sitting in the gallery, and apologized.

“I’m sorry about your son,” Nelson said to the victim’s mother.

Prosecutors said Nelson has been in the criminal justice system his entire adult life and knows the consequences of his actions. They said Nelson was not an “unwitting participant,” but was the one supplying the guns and offering encouragement to the perpetrators of the shooting.

“The community should not have to take another chance on Mr. Nelson,” the prosecutor said.

Lisbeth Saperstein, one of Nelson’s attorneys, said Jackson and Freeman could have gotten the guns from another source if Nelson had not provided them. She asked the judge for a sentence that reflects his involvement in the crime, which did not involve actively shooting people.

Judge Brandt ordered Nelson to pay $2,200 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund by Dec. 31, 2075.

Judge Brandt told Nelson that he has 30 days to file an appeal.

No further hearings are scheduled in this case.