Judge Sentences Murder Defendant Despite Attempt at a Delay

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 17, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a murder defendant on Dec. 17, despite a last minute effort to have his sentence delayed.

Kenneth Adams was found guilty of first-degree murder while armed, obstruction of justice and other firearms offenses for allegedly shooting 21-year-old Dante “Te” Kinard on the 1800 block of Benning Road, NE in 2016.

Judge Judith Bartnoff sentenced Adams to 32 years in prison, which was two years  more than Adam’s defense attorney, Nikki Lotze, requested. It was five years less than the prosecution’s request.

Lotze said Adams deserved a second chance at life because of his tough upbringing.

Adams, 21, tried to delay the sentencing by filing a motion to delay and asking Judge Bartnoff for a new attorney. Adams told the judge, at the bench, why he wanted to replace Lotze.

However, despite his request, Judge Bartnoff continued with the sentencing as scheduled. She said the case had gone on too long.

The prosecution said it would be unfair to delay the sentencing because Kinard’s family had been waiting for almost four years for justice.

Once the sentencing proceeded, members Kinard’s family told the judge how life had been hard for the entire family since Kinard’s death.

“Do you know what it’s like to have to be so strong for your family that you go in and identify your brother’s dead body because no one else can,” said Kinard’s sister.

Adams said he was sorry for what happened to Kinard, but he was maintaining his innocence and that he did not carry out the shooting.

Jaylin Hawkins wrote this story.