DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno suspended a 15 month sentence for a shooting defendant on June 25.
Bryant Howard, 22, pleaded guilty on April 21 to carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business and endangerment with a firearm in a public place for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting on Aug. 17, 2024 on the 100 block of Wayne Place, SE. The shooting did not injure any victims but severely damaged a vehicle.
Howard’s defense attorney, Elizabeth Paige White, asked Judge Salerno to consider Howard’ sentencing under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) due to this being his first adult felony conviction. The YRA effectively seals the record of a youthful defendant if he sucessfuly completes his term.
White requested a sentence of 10 months, all time suspended, and six months of supervised probation.
Prosecutors emphasized the extent of physical damages to the vehicle, as well as the emotional toll the incident inflicted on the owner. The prosecution did not request a specific sentence but asked for Howard to pay $1,000 in restitution to the victim and a stay-away order from the incident location. White disputed the stay-away order because Howard’s family lives in the area.
Judge Salerno sentenced Howard to 15 months, with all time suspended, three years of supervised release, and 18 months of supervised probation under the Youth Rehabilitation Act. With his probation, Howard is required to complete 90 hours of community service, pursue a GED or vocational training, and complete a gun violence prevention program.
Howard is also required to pay a $1,000 restitutions, register as a gun offender, and follow the stay-away order from the location of the incident.
Howard was released from the DC Jail, and no further dates were set.
