In what the prosecution says was a murder by mistake, a 57-year-old defendant was sentenced to 29 years in prison in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on May 23. The term means Guy Johnson will most likely die in jail.
Johnson was convicted in March of second-degree while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for the murder of 28-year-old Kriston Robinson on March 25, 2020, on the 1600 block of 19th Street, SE.
During the hearing Robinson’s mother described how the killing impacted her life. “I am lost without her. She was my everything,” she said.
She also reflected on the irony that Robinson was an innocent victim. “I would ask what did my daughter do that you killed her?” said Robinson’s mother. While she is able to forgive, she says she cannot forget what happened.
Robinson’s cousin told the court in a statement about the profound pain Johnson’s actions have caused the family. “I know Kriston isn’t coming back. I’m so happy that justice has come to my family,” she said.
The prosecutor said Kriston’s mother carries a life-sized picture of her from place to place in remembrance. Describing the crime as brazen, the prosecutor says the shooting took place in front of several witnesses and the victim was not the intended target.
“He [Johnson] is a danger to the community. The sentence should reflect on the long-term harm that he’s done,” said the prosecutor who told the court that the defendant has a criminal history of drug use, pimping and petty infractions going back to 1998.
Johnson is also accused of assault with intent to kill in a shooting case that came before the court last July.
The prosecutor asked the judge to sentence Johnson toward the top of the guidelines which would have maxed Johnson out at more than 57 years.
Kevin Mosley, Johnson’s attorney, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Robinson family. However, he said Johnson will pay a high price for his actions. “Mr. Johnson is alone and will likely spend the rest of his life in jail alone,” said Mosley, hoping to keep the sentence less than 20 years.
Johnson briefly acknowledged his own hurt. “I asked God to show a way. To help me,” he said without directly addressing Robinson’s family or the nature of his actions.
In passing sentence, Judge Dayson said Johnson had made no progress in changing his life and committed a killing that “should not have happened.”
For the second-degree murder charge, jail time would be 19 years. For possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, five years, on the assault with intent to kill while armed count, ten years, for the second possession charge, five years and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, two years.
The murder, possession of a firearm and unlawful possession counts run currently. Counts three and four, assault with intent to kill and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence run concurrently to themselves, but consecutively to the other three counts.
The total incarceration is 29 years minus time served meaning Johnson would be well into his 80s on release. While he technically gets credit for time served, the federal Bureau of Prisons isn’t bound by that commitment.
Supervised release amounts to five years and Johnson will have to pay $500 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund.
The next hearing on Johnson’s assault case is set for September 19.
