Homicide and Non-Fatal Stabbing Defendant Accepts Plea Agreement

By Sam Chodorow - March 29, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

On March 25, a homicide defendant accepted a plea agreement in a homicide extended by prosecutors in front of DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

Joseph Melton, 54, was originally charged with carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business, and possession of a prohibited weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that claimed 48-year-old Kevin Chamberlain’s life. The incident occurred on Jan. 14, 2020, on the 700 block of 24th Street, NW.

Melton was also charged with assault with intent to kill for his alleged involvement in another stabbing incident that injured one on the same day on the 800 block of Vermont Ave, NW.

After a stay at St. Elizabeths mental hospital, Melton was declared competent to stand trial by O’Keefe on March 22, and was originally expected to go to trial April 29 before accepting the plea agreement.

After the prosecutor finished reading the proffer of facts, Melton explained to Judge O’Keefe that, “A lot of it is not correct.” 

“What about the stabbing part,” O’Keefe asked? “Did you stab him?” Melton responded “Yes.”

“Are you claiming you acted in self-defense,” O’Keefe asked? Melton responded no.

By accepting the plea agreement, Melton’s first-degree murder charge was downgraded to second-degree murder. He also pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. The prosecutor agreed to drop all additional charges and reserve a final allocution recapping the facts in the case at sentencing.

Melton could be sentenced to between 12-and-a-half and 29 years in prison.

Parties are set to reconvene for sentencing in mid-June.