Murder Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 27, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A murder defendant accepted a plea deal during his preliminary hearing on Nov. 26.

Keith Jenkins, 20, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for allegedly shooting 19-year-old Alvin Barnes on the 2200 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. Barnes died of a fatal shot to the head. 

Jenkins decided to waive his right to a preliminary hearing and entered a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter while armed. He was initially charged with second-degree murder while armed. 

If DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman accepts the sentencing term, which was agreed to by both parties, Jenkins could face 11 years in prison and five years of supervised release. 

The charge holds a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison with 5 years of unsupervised release.

Jenkins’ defense attorney, Dorsey Jones, motioned for Jenkins to be released to a high intensity supervision program until his sentencing hearing because he willingly turned himself in when he found out the police were looking for him. Jenkins first appeared in DC Superior Court on Oct. 28. 

Judge Edelman denied the request because Jenkins has an accessory to theft charge and a robbery charge that he pleaded guilty to in Maryland. 

Judge Edelman also said he would look into whether Jenkins could be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act. 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled to occur on Feb. 7, 2020.

Danuellys Diaz wrote this story.