Metro Attack Defendant Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison

By Lindsay Mutzman - June 10, 2024
Daily Stories | stabbing | Suspects |

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced a stabbing defendant to seven years of incarceration in connection to an assault aboard a Metro train, on June 7. 

Michael Harrington, 43, was originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, for his involvement in a non-fatal stabbing aboard a Metro train at the Navy Yard Station on the 1200 block of Half Street, SE, on Sept. 3, 2023. A woman sustained life-threatening injuries during the incident.

According to court documents, Harrington attacked the victim unprovoked, stabbing her multiple times in the head and body, telling her he would kill her. 

On March 5, 2024, Harrington accepted an Alford plea deal, which required Harrington to agree that the prosecution could establish his guilt but he did not have to admit to the facts of the case. The plea required Harrington to plead guilty to assault with intent to kill, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment. 

During the hearing, the prosecution told Judge Raffinan that the victim “thought she was going to die” during the offense, and continues to be extremely vulnerable

According to the prosecution, at the time of the incident, Harrington, who is known to struggle with mental health and substance abuse issues, was intoxicated, which caused his perception of the incident, and has played a role in his inability to recall what happened.

However, Jesse Winograd, Harrington’s defense attorney, told Judge Raffinan Harrington is a “completely different person” when he takes medication that helps his mental health issues. According to Winograd, Harrington’s mother had previously attempted to provide help, but was unable to. 

As per Winograd, Harrington was enduring a “dissociation from reality” at the time of the incident, which he argued was caused by intoxication. 

“I wanted to apologize to the victims. I’m very sorry,” Harrington said to Judge Raffinan. 

Aside from the 84 months of incarceration, Judge Raffinan also sentenced Harrington to three years of supervised release along with an intervention plan. 

There are no further dates set.