Judge Sentences Murder Defendant to 11 Years in Prison

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 7, 2020
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A murder defendant is sentenced to 11-years in prison for shooting a 19-year-old from a car.

Keith Jenkins, 20, is sentenced to prison for voluntary manslaughter while armed, for shooting Alvin Barnes, 19, on the 2200 block of Alabama Avenue, SE on Oct. 23, 2019. The two had gotten in a physical dispute, whereby Jenkins drove away and then and shot Barnes in the back of the head from a car.

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman said he considered sentencing Jenkins under the Youth Rehabilitation Act, which is a sentencing alternative for offenders who are convicted under the age of 22. 

Jenkins turned himself in to the police with great speed, pleaded guilty, and has been greatly cooperative thus far, Judge Edelman said in reference to his consideration.

However, Judge Edelman said he decided against sentencing Jenkins under the act because of the nature of the crime and his other charges. 

Even though Jenkins had no prior criminal history, he is currently released on bond in Prince George’s County, Md. for an alleged robbery. 

In addition to his prison term, Jenkins will serve five years on supervised release. He will also need to register as a gun offender after he is released from prison.  

“Nobody wins here,” the prosecutor said. “There’s a dead young man and a man who is going to be incarcerated for a lot of his life.”