Judge Releases Defendant On Time Served

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 9, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

On Oct. 9, a DC Superior Court judge released a defendant on time served. 

On Aug. 23 on the 400 block of 17th Street, NW an ice cream truck operator approached agents in a US Secret Service cruiser. The operator notified them that a customer, who had just purchased from his truck, had a gun concealed in his bag. 

At this time, the Secret Service agents were preparing to control traffic for the President’s motorcade.

The ice cream truck owner provided authorities with a description. The US Secret Service stopped a suspect matching the description, who was then identified as the defendant, Michael Johnson. 

“[It] sounds like [he was] in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Judge Michael O’Keefe. 

Johnson, 32, was initially charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. However, after making a plea deal, the prosecution reduced the charge to attempted carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. 

Defense attorney Linda Houston said that, while her client was not licensed to carry a firearm in DC, he had legally purchased his weapon and ammunition in Pennsylvania. 

Judge O’Keefe granted the defense’s request for a sentence of time served and ordered the court to secure the paperwork for Johnson’s release. 

Maria Marzullo wrote this article.