Judge Sentences Defendant for Assault on A Police Officer

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On Oct. 26, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to serve 75 days for assault on a police officer.

On April 29, while being held at the DC Jail, Leroy Kear grabbed an officer from his cell and threw water at him.

“He was waiting to be sentenced for assault and weapon possession charges when he assaulted the officer,” said the prosecution.

Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced Kear to 185 days, 105 of which were suspended, plus one year of probation. He will receive credit for time served.

The prosecution asked for a six month sentence suspended all but 90 days.  

Defense attorney Sean Coleman said his 33-year-old client was in a stressful situation and acted poorly. 

However, the officer was clearly in a stressful situation as well, as he threw water right back at Kear, Coleman said.

Judge Rainey Brandt asked the prosecutor to confirm the officer’s retaliation on Kear. The prosecutor said he had no reason not to believe Coleman’s statement about what happened. 

“If indeed that is true, now we have two sets of immature behavior from Mr. Kear and the officer,” said Judge Brandt. 

Kear must comply with a stay away order as a condition of his probation.