According D.C. Witness data, 34 plea deals–more than half– were accepted in October for homicide, non-fatal shooting, stabbing and carjacking cases, nearly 62 percent of the total number of pending plea deals. It’s an increase from the September plea deal total for he same crimes. .
Overall there were approximately 55 plea deals pending from current and past cases in October. Of those 55, 34 were accepted,13 were rejected, and eight are still pending.
The number of accepted pleas increased from 25 in September across the listed crimes in the District. There were 46 plea deals pending in September.
Byron Sneed, 40, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Raymond Washington on June 30, 2024, at the 700 block of Marietta Place, NW. Sneed rejected a plea deal offered to him on Oct. 8. The terms of the deal were discussed under seal with DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan.
For homicides, six pleas were accepted, while three were rejected, and one is still pending a decision.
On Oct. 17, Mussay Rezene, 31, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed, in the fatal stabbing of 34-year-old Darrow Johnson on Aug. 19, 2023, at the DC Jail. Rezene accepted a plea deal of 15-to-20 years of incarceration for his guilty plea, and was sentenced by DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz to 20 years on Oct. 30.
Data shows there were 29 cases that began in October. Out of those cases, two plea deals were offered with defendants rejecting one plea while the other is still awaiting a decision.
