Judge Rules Outside of Sentencing Guideline at Defense’s Request

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 16, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During a sentencing Aug. 16, a judge granted the defense’s request to sentence a defendant outside of the District’s voluntary sentencing guidelines.

David Jones, 38, was found guilty in November of 2018 of second-degree murder, driving under the influence, and leaving after colliding for killing 65-year-old Carolyn Ellis, 65, on the corner of 10th and U Streets, NW on Feb. 6, 2017.

DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Beck said that she was considering that Jones had accepted responsibility for the crime but also was considering his criminal history in her decision. His criminal history was not disclosed in open court.

Beck sentenced Jones to eight and a half years in prison with five years of supervised release.

Defense counsel, Elizabeth Weller, requested that Jones be sentenced outside the sentencing guideline because his crime did not coincide with crimes that are generally given the title of “second-degree murder.”

Weller said, she believed that the prosecution was trying to “punish” Jones for going to trial by stating things in his sentencing memo like, “Jones had no respect for the victim, legal system and life.”

Weller also said Jones accepted responsibility for his actions.

Jones said he was working on becoming a better person.

“I have been taking college courses and with the help of my family who owns a church, Jones said. “I have been able to turn my life over to Christ. I even helped to start a Christian Ministry program while in jail to show the men that with God we can get through anything.”

The prosecutor requested that Jones be sentenced according to the guidelines, which would have given him a sentence between 13 and 25 years in prison. Jones’ conduct was outrageous, and he was offered plea deals but declined which resulted in a trial, the prosecutor told the judge.