DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz delayed imposing a homicide defendant’s sentence in order to allow him to earn his high school diploma on Nov. 14.
On April 24, Caleb Padilla, 20, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Damion Hill. The incident occurred on Dec. 30, 2024 on the 1800 block of Benning Road NE.
Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of ten-to-12 years of imprisonment.
At the hearing, the prosecution recommended a sentence of 12 years of imprisonment, as well as five years of supervised release. Padilla’s defense attorney, Molly Bunke, presented three separate sentencing plans to the court that would allow for Padilla to graduate high school and be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) before being transferred to the federal prison system for the rest of his sentence.
The YRA allows a young defendant’s conviction to be sealed if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements.
The prosecution opposed all three offers, and raised concerns that without an imposed sentence, Padilla could later revoke his plea of guilty. The prosecution also stated that the purpose of Padilla’s plea was to expedite “swift justice and a quick resolution”.
Bunke argued that Padilla wished to resolve the issue at his first hearing, and is the reason he accepted his plea deal. The defense also noted that one of their sentencing plans allowed for Padilla to have a sentence imposed at the hearing, but would delay its execution until after earning his diploma.
Judge Kravitz believed that the defense’s suggested plan addressed legal issues highlighted by the prosecution, but asked Padilla if he would go on the record to further alleviate worries from the prosecution.
“I don’t want to withdraw my plea, I do want to graduate high school so my daughter can see I’m doing something with my life,” Padilla said. “ I plead guilty because I am guilty and I want to make my actions right and apologize to the family.”
Judge Kravitz accepted Padilla’s request, and said that he would not impose a sentence at the hearing. He also noted that Padilla’s ability to earn a high school diploma would demonstrate rehabilitation potential that would allow him to be sentenced under the YRA.
Instead, Judge Kravitz proposed that Padilla’s progress in school be monitored in court every 60 days until his graduation, or lack thereof, before his sentence would be imposed.
Parties are slated to reconvene Jan. 16, 2026.
