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By
Ivanna Ceballos [former]
- December 11, 2024
Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Suspects
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During a hearing on Dec. 11, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced a man to 60 months of incarceration for aggravated assault and 60 months for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, with a total of six years of supervised release to follow. The sentences will run concurrently.
On June 15, Martel Howard, 24, pleaded guilty to the charges in June as part of an agreement in which the prosecution did not seek an indictment. The charges stem from a shooting on July 31, 2022, on the 2000 block of 14th Street, NW, during an attempted robbery. The incident left the victim with four gunshot wounds.
Howard addressed the court during the hearing, reflecting on his efforts to reconnect with his faith and education while in custody. He expressed a desire to pursue a career in the trades and to give back to his community by mentoring youth.
His defense attorney, Terrance Austin, highlighted Howard’s personal growth and the hardships he has faced in custody, including being stabbed and shot at, which contributed to his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“All of us are more than any single mistake that you’ve made,” Austin told the court.
Judge Raffinan acknowledged Howard’s efforts but emphasized the severity of his actions. She noted Howard’s choice to fire multiple shots at the victim and to flee the scene, leaving the victim critically injured, as significant factors in her decision. She also pointed out that Howard’s probation had been revoked twice and that he had already received two opportunities to have convictions set aside under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA).
Judge Raffinan ruled that this case would also fall under the YRA, allowing Howard to have his conviction sealed if he successfully completes his sentence and supervised release. She also ordered Howard to register as a gun offender in DC upon his release and to follow an intervention plan during his incarceration and supervised release.
The prosecution had requested 60 months of incarceration per charge served consecutively, and six years of supervised release, aligning with the sentence imposed.
“Ultimately, the decision about what choice you want to make, what mistakes you want to remedy, and what purpose you want to fulfill in your life are up to you,” Judge Raffinan told Howard.
Howard must also pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund for each charge by Sept. 19, 2027.
No additional court dates have been scheduled for this case.