Murder Defendant Asks Judge to Delay Sentencing to Finish School

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A murder defendant asked a DC Superior Court judge to schedule sentencing in June 2020, so he could obtain his high school diploma. Dearren Robert Dawkins and 18-year-old Titus Iracks are charged with felony murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, robbery while armed, attempt to commit robbery while armed and conspiracy while armed for their alleged involvement in the shooting of 43-year-old Larry Harrell on the 1200 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE on June 13, 2018. Iracks is a Title 16 youth being held at DYRS. Both Iracks and Dawkins pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Nov. 19. Iracks is currently enrolled in a special program at Maya Angelou Public Charter School through DYRS. For this reason, his defense attorney, Ronald Resetarits, asked DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson to delay sentencing until June so that Iracks can receive his diploma. The prosecution said that a seven month delay was too long and wanted the judge to consider the victim’s family. The prosecutor also said that since Iracks is technically 18, he should be removed from DYRS as quickly as possible and placed with adult offenders. Judge Dayson did not agree with the prosecutor. “Just because Mr. Iracks committed an offense does not mean he should be denied his education because when he is released from prison he will still have a manslaughter charge on his record and having his diploma might make it easier for him to become a productive member of society.” According to court documents, on June 13, 2018, Iracks and Dawkins attempted to rob Harrell near a Circle 7 in Northeast DC with a gun. When Harrell pulled out a gun of his own both he and the defendants began exchanging gun fire. One shot struck Harrell in the head. Video survielance caught Iracks and Dawkins leaving the Circle 7 in a yellow Dodge Challenger. When police searched Iracks house they found guns and bullets that matched the shell casings left at the scene of the crime. Iracks sentencing is scheduled to occur on June 19, 2020.

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