Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.
Donate NowBy
D.C. Witness Staff
- October 18, 2019
Court
|
Daily Stories
|
Homicides
|
Suspects
|
Victims
|
A murder defendant pleaded guilty Oct. 18 to murdering his stepbrother.
Antonio Williams,39, is charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a violent crime and unlawful possession of a firearm for shooting Antwaun Smith, 41, on the 600 block of Newton Place, NW in 2017.
During a status hearing, Williams agreed to a plea deal that would downgrade his first-degree murder while armed charge to voluntary manslaughter while armed. His other charges would be waived except for unlawful possession of a firearm.
Under the deal, Williams could be sentenced to ten years in prison. Under the volutary sentencing guidelines, a first-degree murder while armed charge carries a sentence term between 30-60 years in prison. The guideline states that voluntary manslaughter while armed holds a possible sentence of five to 30 years in prison.
The prosecution said that if the case had gone to trial they would have found that Williams shot his stepbrother in the back of the head after asking him to pick something up off the ground.
DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Lee Beck set Williams’ sentencing date on Dec. 31.