Homicide Defendant Rejects Plea Deal Days Before Trial

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A homicide defendant rejected a plea deal extended by prosecutors in a hearing before DC Superior Court Michael Ryan on Feb. 14, four days before a scheduled jury trial.

Jerome Israel, 19, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed, three counts of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, two counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and two counts of destruction of property, for his alleged involvement in the death of ChaQuan Barbett, 24, on Aug. 23, 2022. The incident occurred on the 2300 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE.

During the hearing, the prosecution alerted Judge Ryan they had extended a plea deal, which stipulated that Israel plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed, carjacking, unarmed carjacking, and aggravated assault while armed, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. Through the deal, parties would have agreed to a 25 year sentence.

Israel rejected the plea offer.

Prosecutors also argued that the evidence was identity based, though the judge remained skeptical, stating that identity evidence alone does demonstrate Israel’s involvement in the crimes.

Judge Ryan ordered the prosecution to not use the term carjacking during trial, for it to “be more fair to Mr. Israel.”

Parties are slated to reconvene Feb. 18.