Judge Sentences Defendant to 3 Years for Firearms Charges

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 7, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe sentenced a defendant to three years for two charges of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

“I apologize for the decisions I made strictly for safety purposes,” said Medhane Tedese during the Dec. 7 hearing. “It’s been hard at times to depend on law enforcement. I take full responsibility and will serve any time you think fits.” 

According to the cases’ gernsteins, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found a firearm on Tedese, 28, on July 4 while patting him down. Ten days later, they found a 9mm semi-automatic gun in his bedroom.

The prosecution requested that Tedese be incarcerated for 18 months for his first case and 21 months for his second case.

“We are asking for a higher sentencing in the second case due to the fact that it was a reoffense,” the prosecutor said. 

Defense attorney Colleen Archer asked that Tedese be sentenced to 15 months in both cases. Archer pointed out that the defendant did not brandish his firearm or threaten anyone with it.

He also said Tedese was in complete compliance with the MPD when they searched his home and took full responsibility for his actions. 

Tedese’s sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. 

Emily Pengelly wrote this article.