‘I Didn’t Have Nothing to Do With This,’ Says Co-Defendant at Sentencing Hearing

By Natalie Note - September 9, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced two homicide co-defendants to 50 and 61 years of imprisonment for the 2017 fatal shooting of a teenage girl on Sept. 6. 

Robert Moses, 27, and James Mayfield, 27, were convicted of conspiracy, first-degree premeditated murder while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and aggravated assault knowingly while armed. Additionally, Moses was convicted of two counts of obstruction of justice. 

The convictions stem from the men’s involvement in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Jamahri Sydnor on Aug. 10, 2017  at the intersection of Saratoga and Montana Avenues, NE. Syndor was the daughter of a former Metropolitan Department (MPD) officer. Three other individuals sustained injuries during the incident. 

This is the second time the co-defendants have appeared before Judge Raffinan for sentencing, as the original hearing was set for Aug. 12 but was postponed due to the defendant’s refusal to get off the bus from the DC Jail. When they finally appeared, sentencing was canceled following an outburst by the defendants in response to a victim impact statement. 

During the hearing, Sydnor’s mother said in her statement that the death of her daughter has caused irreparable damage to their family and that she grieves daily. 

“The sounds of her voice play in my mind and won’t let me rest,” she said. 

Sydnor’s mother also said she never experienced any incidents in her neighborhood but in the past seven years has had her car windows smashed and tires slashed after court hearings. She said as a former police officer she feels she has failed her own child by not keeping the city safe enough for her. 

The prosecution played a video montage which chronicled Sydnor’s 17 years of life with her family and friends. It highlighted her passions, high school events, and commitment to Florida A&M University, which she was slated to attend. 

Another Sydnor family member wiped his tears as he stood before the court and called the defendants cowards. “Send them away forever, your honor,” he told Judge Raffinan. 

The prosecution requested Mayfield be sentenced to 75 years in prison with five years of supervised release and Moses to 78 years citing the seriousness of the offenses. 

The prosecution said Sydnor and the surviving victims were running errands and living their lives in broad daylight in DC when they became victims of a shooting. “How did we get here?” asked the prosecutor.

Sydnor’s nephew, who was 12 at the time and who she was driving to a hair appointment, sustained injuries from glass shards during the incident. The prosecution said the defendants emotionally “killed that little boy in the car” and left behind a shell shocked young man. 

Veronice Holt, one of Mayfield’s attornies, said the pre-sentence report writers saw potential for a future and rehabilitation when they evaluated Mayfield. She also mentioned his history of mental illness and asked Judge Raffinan for mercy and a lesser sentence than the 75 years that the prosecution requested.

Mayfield gave a statement addressing the victim’s family. 

“I wanted to let the family know I am truly sorry for your loss, but I didn’t have nothing to do with this,” Mayfield said. 

Halfway through his statement, a member of the audience spoke up. 

“How many minutes do we get of this sh*t,” the family member said before being told to remain silent by the US Marshals. 

Mayfield continued his statement, saying that his family has been too intimidated by the victim’s family to come to his hearings and they were “too scared” to come to his sentencing. He also said he has been suffering in jail, citing his schizophrenia. 

Steven Kiersh, Moses’ attorney, said Judge Raffinan should consider Moses as a whole person when deciding his sentence. He also said that because Moses intends to appeal the conviction, he will not be making a statement. 

Kiersh ended his statement by saying that Moses was a “profoundly polite and cooperative” person and asked the Court to sentence him at the bottom of what is statutorily required. 

Before imposing the sentences, Judge Raffinan expressed her condolences to the victim’s families and acknowledged that no sentence will bring back Sydnor’s life or reverse the impact of the incident on the other victims. 

“It cannot be understated the heinousness of this offense,” Raffinan said.  

Judge Raffinan sentenced Mayfield to 50 years in prison with five years of supervised release. He is also required to pay $1100 to the victim’s fund and must register as a gun offender if released.

Moses was sentenced to 61 years in prison with five years of supervised release. He is also required to pay $1300 to the victim’s fund and must also register as a gun offender.

No further dates were set.