‘I Want to Forgive Her But Not Forget,’ Says Stabbing Victim at Sentencing

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DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan sentenced a stabbing defendant to 28 months on June 14.

Donnell Jackson, 31, was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury, four counts of threats to do bodily harm, and three counts of assault, for his involvement in a stabbing incident that occurred on Oct. 2, 2023, on the 500 block of D Street, NW. One individual sustained stab wounds during the incident.

Court documents say the issue between Jackson and the victim was a dispute over a man.

According to the judge, he carefully reviewed letters from Jackson’s family, friends, and her resume before deciding on the appropriate sentence.

Jackson’s struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues were a significant part of her defense. Diagnosed with a mood disorder and bipolar disorder, she received treatment while waiting for the case to be resolved.

The victim described her ongoing struggle with the trauma inflicted by Jackson in a victim impact statement.

“I want to forgive her but not forget what has happened to me,” the victim said, highlighting her need for frequent psychiatric support. “I just want to live my life,” she added, emphasizing the lasting impact of the assault. ab

The prosecution argued that Jackson has continually refused to accept accountability for her actions. They requested a comprehensive sentence of 24 months for assault with bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon, seven days for each threat charge, 90 days for one of the simple assault charges, 45 days for the other simple assault charge, and 12 months of supervised probation. They requested she serve the sentence immediately.

However, Jackson’s defense attorney, Gregg Baron, requested she serve a split sentence, considering Jackson’s seven months already served in the DC Jail.

He proposed suspending the remaining time, with Jackson entering a bed-to-bed treatment program. He said Jackson’s status as a transgender woman could cause safety issues in the DC jail.

In her closing remarks, Jackson expressed deep remorse and claimed full accountability for her actions. “I’m extremely remorseful… I truly accept accountability for the situation that took place.”

Judge Ryan sentenced Jackson to seven days for each of the four counts of threats to do bodily harm misdemeanor, 30 days for each charge of simple assault, 30 days for assault with a dangerous weapon committed during release, and 28 months with 10 months suspended, resulting in 18 months for two merged counts of assault with a dangerous weapon committed during release and one count of assault with significant bodily injury committed during release. Judge Ryan also imposed three years of supervised probation following her release and required her to pay a $600 fine to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund (VVCF).

The judge also gave her credit for the time she spent in jail, acknowledging the gender-related concerns presented by the defense.