Murder Charge Dropped in Global Plea Deal

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 23, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A defendant was sentenced to serve five years after reaching a global plea deal that involved dropping a homicide charge.

Cinquan Cartledge was previously been charged with first-degree murder while armed and first-degree murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit robbery in the death of Orlando Silver III. Silver was 37 years-old when he was fatally shot Nov. 13, 2016, on the 1300 block of Howard Road, SE. 

Cartledge, 26, was also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, armed robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in this case. 

The defendant pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in exchange for all the other charges being dropped.

He also pleaded down from assault with a dangerous weapon to a lesser charge of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in another case. 

During the Nov. 23 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced Cartledge three years in prison for the firearm charge and two years for the attempted assault charge. The sentences will run consecutively.

Defense attorney Carol Blume asked that his client’s sentences run concurrent, but Judge Edelman denied the request due to the severity of the crimes. 

However, the defendant, who has been held at DC Jail since 2017, will receive credit for time served. 

Another case, in which the defendant was charged with simple assault, was also dismissed as a result of the plea deal. Cartledge has one other simple assault case that is undisposed. 

During the hearing, Cartledge said his experience in custody had helped him grow as a person and he is ready to begin moving on with his life. 

Abigail Grifno wrote this article.