Murder Defendant Rejects 2nd Degree Plea Deal

By D.C. Witness Staff - June 26, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a status hearing June 25, a murder defendant rejected a plea offer from the prosecution.

Torey Stockton is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 23-year-old Jasmine Light on the 2000 block of 16th Street, SE in 2018. According to court documents, Light was an unintentional victim of a drive-by shooting. Stockton is being held at DC Jail without bail

If Stockton, 21, had decided to plead guilty to second-degree murder, he could have received a prison sentence spanning from 12 to 24 years. The plea would have required a lower sentence than the mandatory minimum required by the District of Columbia Sentencing Commission’s Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines. 

According to the guidelines, Stockton could receive a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison. The lowest sentence he could face is 30 years in prison. 

The prosecution also told DC Superior Court Judge Dayna Dayson that “there may be a couple of additional [DNA] testings.” Judge Dayson reminded counsel that, if they intended to do further testing, they must inform the defense. 

According to court documents, a witness believed there were two or three individuals in the vehicle with Stockton. 

In addition to the murder charge, Stockton is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, carrying a pistol outside a home or business, tampering with physical evidence and obstruction of justice. 

Kayla Thompson, a co-defendant in this case, was also present in court. Thompson is charged with obstruction of justice. She is currently released on personal recognizance.

Stockton and Thompson, are scheduled for a status hearing on Sept. 26.