Judge Sentences Assault Defendant

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 26, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Probation | stabbing |

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to ten months in prison. 

Arthur Harris was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in November 2019. He pleaded guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in the following December.

During the Oct. 26 hearing, Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced Harris to 20 months, 10 of which were suspended, plus one year of supervised probation. 

Harris, who has been held in DC Jail since November, will receive credit for time served.  Judge Brandt assured his family that he will be released later today. 

On Oct. 29, 2019, the 24 year-old defendant stabbed a man on the left side of his torso on the 2500 block of Benning Road, NE.

According to the prosecution, the victim had to get surgery.

Harris was reviewed to possibly be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which would effectively seal his case after he completes certain requirements.  

However, the prosecution opposed the YRA because of the violent nature of the case as well as Harris having been sentenced under the YRA in the past. They recommended a 20 month sentence with four months suspended and 18 months of supervised probation. 

Judge Brandt also denied the YRA because Harris has already been sentenced under it before. 

Defense attorney David Cumberbatch said his client’s mental health struggles were a big reason for him acting out in the way he did.

“He was not on his medication. He was very obviously using drugs during the incident,” he said. 

Cumberbatch did not specify a specific amount of time for his sentence recommendation but he did ask for a short split sentence under the YRA with probation to include therapy and anger management classes.

Judge Brandt mentioned four disciplinary issues that Harris was cautioned for while being held in DC Jail. She agreed that Harris needs to get his anger in check. 

However, Judge Brandt did mention that Harris has time to change. During his probation, Harris will be required to take anger management classes, mental health treatment, drug treatment and vocational training. He must also pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime (VVC) compensation fund and not use drugs, including marijuana and alcohol.