Judge Vacates Homicide Defendant’s Sentence 

By Adriana Marroquin - October 23, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Oct. 23, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun vacated a homicide defendant’s sentence following the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BoP) deeming it unlawful. 

Rasheed Young, 45, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Cedric Rogers on June 11, 1996, on the 300 block of Franklin Street, NE. 

Young was also charged with second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Ronald Richardson on May 20, 2018, on the 2300 block of 4th Street, NE. 

According to documents from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), “Young has numerous prior arrests” connected to various violent crimes. 

On Oct. 10, 2022, Young accepted a plea offer extended by prosecutors that required him to plead guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, in exchange for not indicting the cases, with an agreed sentence of six to nine years incarceration for both cases. 

On Oct. 28, 2022, Judge Okun sentenced Young to nine years for each count, with the sentences running concurrently. 

According to Judge Okun, in November 2022, the BoP deemed his sentence unlawful, stating that the sentence did not go within the lawful sentencing guidelines for the charge. 

Kevin Mosley, Young’s defense attorney, requested Young be transferred back to the DC Jail from Northern Neck, VA, stating he needs to be closer to his client to be able to figure out what the next steps should be. 

Prosecutors did not oppose the request, stating it may be easier for Young to be in the area to move the matter faster. 

In response to the motion, Judge Okun vacated the sentence he had imposed in 2022, and scheduled a sentencing hearing for Nov. 28, where parties will discuss a new plea agreement or a new sentence.