Judge Sentences Defendant Under Youth Act, Despite Prosecution’s Objection

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 28, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Probation | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge gave a defendant a suspended sentence plus probation for carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. 

Delvon Hill, 20, pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license in two cases.

As part of a plea deal with the prosecution, Hill’s other charges of reckless driving, weapon possession, fleeing a law enforcement officer, destruction of property, leaving after colliding, possessing an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition were dropped. 

Despite the objections from the prosecution, who said Hill had been given too many chances, Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced Hill under the guidelines of the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA.) 

“Mr. Hill is a young man who is crying out for help. He’s cried out for help twice by getting criminal convictions and no one up to now has listened to him,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that it took him getting incarcerated to get help.”

Judge Brandt sentenced Hill to 12 months, all of which were suspended, plus one year of probation.

Hill was also charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business in May of 2019.

“Mr. Hill has been locked up for over three months during the second-worst pandemic that the United States has endured. This time is more difficult than any other time,” defense attorney Richard Holliday said during the Aug. 28 hearing.

Holliday also spoke about how Hill grew up with many challenges and had to move around to on of the “toughest” neighborhoods in the city. 

“Hill lost his good friend to violence last year; that reinforced in his mind that he has to protect himself,” Holliday said. “If you don’t come from that environment then it becomes exceedingly hard to understand that mindset.”

Hill has been receiving mental health treatment while incarcerated.

“I’ve had an opportunity to go to the DC jail and speak to Mr. Hill on many occasions,” Holliday said. “Mr. Hill is a totally different person when he is taking those psychotropic drugs.

It has a calming effect on him. It chills him out,” the lawyer continued. 

Hill apologized to the victim and took full responsibility for his actions.

“When I was out there I was asking for help for my mental health and people overlooked it. I’ve been trying to work on it on my own, but it hasn’t helped. The medicine has helped me not get as angry,” Hill said. 

According to court documents, in 2019 Hill stole a Hyundai that was registered in the District of Columbia and then crashed it trying to flee from the police.

According to the victim’s impact statement, the expenses that Hill caused are not covered by the insurance company.

However, Hill will not have to pay restitution for the damaged vehicle.

“The court shouldn’t impose a restitution order from where there’s no means to extract that restitution,” Judge Brandt said. 

As part of his probation, Hill must get his driver’s license, partake in a drug treatment program, take anger management classes, and participate in a day reporting center run by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA). 

Hill is also ordered not to drive without a valid permit and must pay $200 to the Victims of Violent Crime fund.

He must also register as a gun offender within the next 48 hours. 

Hill will not have to do any community service hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic.