DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced Nakita Walker, 46, to 29 years in prison for her involvement in a vehicle crash that killed three on June 25.
A jury convicted Walker on April 6 of three counts of involuntary manslaughter, assault with a dangerous weapon, and fleeing a law enforcement officer. The jury found Walker not guilty of three counts of second-degree murder. The charges stem from her involvement in a fatal crash that killed Mohamed Kamara, 43, Jonathan Cabrera Mendez, 23, and Olvin Josue Torres Velasquez, 22, on March 15, 2023 on Rock Creek Parkway, NW.
According to evidence presented by the prosecution during trial, Walker’s blood-alcohol level was over twice the legal limit as she fled police at a traffic stop and crashed on the parkway. Judge Brandt also noted that Walker has five previous convictions for driving while under the influence.
At sentencing, both Walker and her attorney, Albert Amissah, chronicled Walker’s success during her incarceration over the past few years. Walker graduated from the Georgetown Prison Scholars Program, and participated in other rehabilitation programs. Amissah quoted numerous letters from Walker’s peers and teachers who reiterated that she actively seeks to better herself.
“This is not the same person,” Amissah, who previously represented Walker in another case, said. “She deserves a chance.” Amissah asked for the sentence to be on the lower side of the guidelines laid out in the pre-sentencing report, and for Walker’s sentences to run concurrently for each charge.
The prosecution acknowledged that Walker had a traumatic childhood and was later a stabbing victim, yet argued that she is now middle aged. In reference to Walker’s past convictions, the prosecutor said, “It’s shocking that she managed to make it this far without hurting someone.” They asked for a sentence of 29-and-a-half years.
The prosecutor also read a statement from a cousin of Torres Velasquez. The cousin wrote, “We grieve not only for who he was, but all the moments and milestones we won’t be able to share with him.”
Members of Cabrera Mendez’s family spoke to the courtroom as well, supporting each other as they grew emotional.
“Behind all of this, there is a family that suffers daily,” a written statement from Cabrera Mendez’s brother said.
Cabrera Mendez’s mother urged the court to see her son beyond his judicial file. “Remember that behind this case, there is a human being,” she said.
The mother said her son was everything to her, and she mourns that she’ll never see him start his own family.
Walker spoke after the victims’ families, apologizing. “When I heard you crying on the stand, it broke my heart,” she said to Cabrera Mendez’s family. Walker said she is also a mother.
“I think about them everyday,” Walker said. “I deserve to be in jail.”
Judge Brandt thanked Walker for taking accountability, and mentioned how every time there was a civilian witness on the stand during the trial, Walker cried.
Judge Brandt said she would request that the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BoP) send Walker to a facility within driving distance of DC so her family can visit, as well as one with programs for addiction and mental health treatment.
Walker faces eight years in prison for each manslaughter charge, five years for assault, and two concurrent years for fleeing police. This will be followed by five years of supervised release. She is not permitted to drive until later notice from the court.
There are no further hearings scheduled in this case.
