DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld suspended two years of imprisonment for a defendant who carjacked a victim riding their moped during a sentencing on Nov. 17.
Derrick Curtis, 23, was originally charged with unarmed carjacking for his involvement in an incident on Dec. 30, 2024 at the intersection of 16th Street and Benning Road, NE.
Curtis pleaded guilty on Aug. 18 to assault with intent to commit robbery and first-degree theft and in exchange, prosecutors dismissed the carjacking charge.
According to court documents, Curtis pushed the victim off of his moped at a traffic light and drove off with the moped.
At sentencing, the prosecutor requested Curtis serve 39 months of imprisonment for assault with intent to commit robbery and 24 months for theft. The prosecutor acknowledged Curtis’ acceptance of responsibility but requested the sentence as a deterrent against future crimes.
According to the prosecutor, the victim was a food delivery driver who used his moped to sustain himself economically. “That individual was just trying to make a living,” said the prosecutor.
Todd Baldwin, Curtis’ attorney, requested 18 months of imprisonment with all time suspended but the eight months he already served at the DC Jail.
“There was not a drop of blood shed in this incident,” said Baldwin, noting there were no physical injuries and the victim received his moped in working condition.
“To a hammer, everything looks like a nail. To the [prosecution], I think they solve all problems by incarceration,” said Baldwin.
Curtis’ mother, present on Webex, asked for her son to receive the help he needs out of jail. Curtis’ mental competence was questioned during the proceedings but an evaluation determined his eligibility to stand trial.
Judge Hertzfeld sentenced Curtis to 24 months for assault with intent to commit robbery and 12 months for first-degree theft. The sentences will run concurrently with all time suspended but time served.
Curtis will be required to complete one year of supervised probation with mental health and drug assessments from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA).
After Judge Hertzfeld issued the sentence, parties briefly discussed the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which allows people under 25 who are convicted of certain crimes to have their convictions sealed or cleared after they successfully complete their sentence and potentially offers sentencing flexibility for the defendant.
The prosecutor immediately voiced that she “absolutely” opposed a YRA sentence. Judge Hertzfeld said she would delay ruling on the YRA until she assessed Curtis’ compliance with his probation.
Judge Hertzfeld ordered Curtis’ release from the DC Jail following the hearing and no further dates were set.
