Murder Defendant Rejects 2nd Plea Offer

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During a status hearing Aug. 7, a murder defendant rejected another plea offer that had been given by the prosecution.

James Embre, 25, is charged with felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children, and second-degree cruelty to children for his alleged role in the death of 2-year-old Aceyson Aizim Ahmad on the 3400 block of A Street, SE in April of 2018. According to court documents, Embre was involved in a romantic relationship with Ahmad’s mother.

D.C. Witness previously reported that the prosecution gave Embre a plea deal last January which he also rejected.

While the terms of the recent plea offer was not discussed in court, the January offer would have reduced his charge of felony murder to second-degree murder.

According to the District of Columbia Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines, second-degree murder carries the possibility of a sentence between 12 to 24 years in prison if the defendant has a criminal history score between zero and a half point.

Both the defense and prosecution said they would be ready for trial, which is set to begin on Sept. 4.

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet J. McKenna scheduled a status hearing on Aug. 22.

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