Judge Sentences Defendant

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 18, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

On Aug. 17, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant after he entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution.

Tony Prunty pleaded guilty to contempt, second-degree theft, simple assault and attempted threats to do bodily harm. 

As part of the plea deal, the prosecution dismissed three of his other cases, in which he was charged with unlawful entry onto private property, destruction of property less than $1,000, second-degree theft, attempted threats to do bodily harm and threats to kidnap or injure a person. 

On March 22, Prunty, 29, threatened a CVS employee on the 1000 block of Connecticut Avenue, saying, “Bitch, I will punch you. I am martial law and I can take what I want,” according to court documents.

That same day, Prunty returned to an establishment on the 1200 block of 1st Street, NE, from which he had been ordered to stay away. He also pepper sprayed a victim on the 400 block of 14th Street, NW.

On April 10, he stole from a CVS on the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, NW and threatened an employee.

Prunty is homeless and has bipolar schizophrenia, according to his defense attorney Derrick Page. Page said the defendant self medicated with street drugs and alcohol, which he said “led to the sort of spiraling out of self-control.”

Page said he did not want to excuse his client’s actions, but said “I just want to keep all the judgements of him in the context of a young man who is on the street without the necessities that we may take for granted.”

Judge Robert Okun sentenced Prunty to 120 days, 60 of which were suspended, for attempted threats. He gave the defendant the same sentenced for each of his three simple assault charges and his second-degree theft charge. 

Prunty’s sentences will run consecutive, but his probation will run concurrent for all the convictions. 

Conditions of his probation include substance abuse assessments and a mental health screening and evaluation. 

“I hope you are able to turn things around once you are released,” Judge Okun said.

This article was written by Andrea Keckley.