DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt released a defendant after he accepted a plea deal for a jail stabbing at a July 24 status hearing.
Deswon Franklin, 30, was initially charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon, for his involvement in a stabbing at the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE, on March 24, 2025.
The hearing allowed parties to finalize a plea deal. Franklin accepted the agreement, which required him to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. In return, the prosecution waived sentencing enhancements and dismissed the remaining charge against Franklin.
According to the prosecution, had the case proceeded to trial, they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that after Franklin engaged in a conversation with the victim, he began stabbing the victim with a sharp metal object. The victim sustained multiple stab wounds.
At the time of the stabbing, Franklin was incarcerated for violating his probation in a previous matter. After Franklin’s sentencing was scheduled for September, his attorney, Thomas Healy, asked for the judge to grant a motion for release.
Healy said release would allow Franklin to spend time with his mother, who, as a result of her rapidly declining cognitive state may not recognize him by the time he finishes his sentence.
Before hearing Healy’s argument for release, Judge Brant made it clear that to consider release she needed concrete evidence that he would not be a threat to the community.
“I can sympathize until we are blue in the face” but that’s not enough for release, said Judge Brandt.
In response, Healy emphasized that Franklin had two locations for stable housing, one within DC, at his brother’s house. In addition, Healy indicated that Franklin’s former employer at Giant was amenable to giving Franklin his job back if he was released. Healy added that Franklin’s friend could offer him a remote or in-person job.
The prosecution argued against release, noting that Franklin just pleaded guilty to a violent crime. In addition, prosecutors also noted Franklin’s history of not complying with court orders, shown in his extensive bench warrant history and that he violated his probation in another case.
Judge Brandt agreed with the prosecution that Franklin had a “pretty wicked” bench warrant history but said she heavily weighed that Franklin had a stable place to live and two jobs lined up.
Judge Brandt ruled in favor of release but warned Franklin.
Judge Brandt said to Franklin, “If you think for a minute I won’t max you out” at sentencing for a misstep, he’s mistaken. The judge emphasized that forgetting to charge his GPS monitor, or not calling his officer from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) could result in serious consequences for Franklin.
“I ain’t gonna miss a beat” said Franklin before thanking Judge Brandt.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 25 for sentencing.
