Judge Accepts Plea Deal in Sentencing Homicide Defendant

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During a Jan. 23 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe accepted a plea deal for a homicide victim and sentenced him to 10 years.

Ch’Juan Robinson, 26, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 35-year-old Louis Kingsbury. The incident occurred on the 1200 block of New Jersey Avenue, NW, on April 29, 2020.

On Aug. 7, 2023, Robinson accepted a plea offer extended by prosecutors, which required he plead guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. In the deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of seven-to-ten years, total.

Robinson’s defense attorney, Dana Page, asked that Judge O’Keefe accept the terms of the plea deal, and sentence Robinson under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which allows young adult offenders to have their cases largely sealed if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements.

Page argued Robinson had already been incarcerated for four years as punishment.

Robinson accepted responsibility and the defense also asked the court to take his difficult childhood, into account.

Page argued that Robinson has developed a positive attitude toward the future despite these hardships, and he has “expressed extreme remorse” for his actions and apologized to the victim’s family and to his family for disappointing them.

Robinson has had several run-ins with police, according to Judge O’Keefe who said that he is lucky to be alive.

Due to Robinson’s criminal history, Judge O’Keefe refused to sentence him under the YRA, but did accept the plea.

Robinson was sentenced to 10 years for voluntary manslaughter, and three years for unlawful possession of a firearm, and is required to serve five years of supervised release. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Robinson is also required to register as a gun offender, and seek mental health assessments and treatments as necessary.

No further dates were set for this matter.

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