Judge Reschedules Sentencing in Homicide Case After Defendant Decides to Continue with Guilty Plea

By Graham Krewinghaus [former] - November 28, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A new defense attorney for a murder defendant told DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun the defendant decided against seeking to withdraw his guilty plea in a hearing on Nov. 28.

Devon Stephens, 36, pleaded guilty on June 10 to second-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting death of 34-year-old Eugene Issac, Jr. on Feb. 15, 2020, on the 100 block of N Street, NW. Prosecutors initially charged Stephens alongside two other defendants, but one defendant’s case was dismissed by a judge. The other defendant, Elton Wiggins, pleaded guilty in November of 2021.

Stephens had previously requested a new defense attorney after his sentencing date was delayed several times. Defense attorney Kevin Irving was appointed to represent him.

Irving told Judge Okun on Monday the defense was ready to go forward with sentencing. Irving requested a date sometime in January of 2023.

Irving also noted that although Stephens previously requested to withdraw his plea, he no longer wanted to pursue that direction. Judge Okun asked Stephens directly if this was true, and he confirmed it was.

According to court documents, Isaac was shot while leaning into his father’s car to talk to someone inside. The next morning, that car was found by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, with surveillance footage showing two men, matching the descriptions of Stephens and Wiggins, exiting the car 13 minutes after the time of the shooting. The drive from the crime scene to where the car was parked would have taken approximately 12 minutes, according to court documents. 

Last year, Wiggins pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in relation to the incident, as well as accessory after the fact to the murder.

The parties are scheduled to reconvene on Jan. 20, 2023, for a sentencing hearing.