Stabbing Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

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A stabbing defendant accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe on June 30.

James Allen, 31, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that injured an individual at a McDonald’s on the unit block of Massachusetts Avenue NE, on Dec. 28, 2024.

According to court documents, Allen allegedly stabbed the victim while in possession of amphetamines before he disposed of the knife in a nearby trash can and fled.

During the hearing, Allen accepted a plea deal, which required him to plead guilty to misdemeanor simple assault. All other charges were dismissed.

Prosecution requested that Allen receive the maximum sentence of 180 days incarceration.

Allen’s attorney, Charles Allen, noted that he has been incarcerated since his arrest on Dec. 28, 2024. Both parties agreed that Allen had already served his time, thus suggesting that he be released.

Judge Pipe argued that such a request misconstrued Allen’s incarceration, which she understood to be in response to probation violations related to other cases. She cited that time served cannot be double counted.

Because Allen was on probation at the time of the offense, Judge Pipe sentenced near the maximum recommendation for his offense. Allen was sentenced to 150 days, having received some credit for time served.

No further dates were set.