Murder Defendant Says Attorney Pressured Him to Accept Plea Deal

A defendant testified that pressure from his attorney and family led him to accept a plea deal for a murder he did not commit during a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Dec. 12.

Erin Sheffey, 30, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Kiwyon Maddox on Aug. 15, 2021 on the 2000 block of 16th Street, SE.

Sheffey accepted an agreement from prosecutors on March 28 that required him to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in exchange for prosecutors dismissing all other charges. As part of the deal, parties agreed to a sentence range of seven-and-a-half-to-15 years of imprisonment that would run concurrent with Sheffey’s sentence in his US District Court case.

According to court records, a month after Sheffey accepted the plea deal, his attorney, Peter Cooper, filed a motion on April 29 to withdraw from the case due to a breakdown in communication. Judge Kravitz appointed Sheffey independent counsel–Adrian Madsen– to advise Sheffey regarding his request to withdraw his guilty plea.

At the hearing, Madsen called Sheffey to testify about his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. Sheffey said he requested Cooper as his attorney because he did a “phenomenal job” representing him in a previous case. However, Sheffey said after Cooper was appointed as his lawyer in this case, he never discussed the substance of the case, reviewed discovery, or any other materials with Sheffey.

According to Sheffey, Cooper presented him with the plea deal and said the sentence he received would not make a difference since it would run concurrent to his 18 year sentence from District Court.

Sheffey said Cooper told him it was “f*cking retarded to talk about going to trial.”

At a meeting at the DC Jail in March, Sheffey told Cooper he signed the plea agreement but had not made a final decision. The day he accepted the deal in court, Sheffey said Cooper never asked if he actually decided.

After Judge Kravitz read the factual offer of evidence from the plea agreement, Sheffey said he asked to speak with Cooper under the husher because the alleged facts were not true. “Judge Kravitz told me that I had to admit to something I didn’t do,” said Sheffey.

Madsen asked why Sheffey proceeded with the plea agreement at the hearing despite his innocence, Sheffey said his state of mind was to “hurry up and take a plea deal so [he] could get it over with.”

“I felt pressured to take this plea deal,” said Sheffey because Cooper reportedly threatened to not represent him if he rejected the plea deal. Sheffey said he also felt pressure from his family and friends.

Sheffey also testified that part of the reason he accepted the deal was because Cooper told him prosecutors might involve one of his friends in the case.

Madsen played multiple of Sheffey’s phone calls from the DC Jail. The day of the plea, March 28, Sheffey told his mother on the phone that he was not responsible for the murder. In another call from April 5, Sheffey told his mother he no longer wanted to take the plea deal and that he accepted the deal to prevent his friend’s involvement.

Sheffey reiterated on the stand that he took the plea deal because he wanted the process to be finished.

During cross-examination, the prosecutor confirmed that Sheffey understood the process of receiving a new lawyer and chose not to fire Cooper. Sheffey said he did not fire Cooper because he thought the situation would improve.

Sheffey told the prosecutor that Cooper briefly discussed the risks of proceeding to trial but never mentioned the benefits of the plea deal.

The prosecutor displayed the plea agreement and recitation of facts in court and confirmed with Sheffey that his signature was on the documents. The prosecutor pointed out that the agreement Sheffey signed said “I have discussed it with my attorney.”

The prosecutor asserted Sheffey was familiar with the process of accepting a plea deal because he previously pleaded guilty in a misdemeanor case in the DC Superior Court. Madsen confirmed during his re-direct questioning that Sheffey’s misdemeanor plea did not involve a written proffer of facts.

Sheffey told the prosecutor his conversation with Cooper about another person’s involvement in the case occurred when he signed the agreement. Sheffey said “I felt very pressured” to sign the deal after that. The prosecutor confirmed Cooper simply told Sheffey that information.

“The day of the plea, I was still in my head if I wanted to do it or not,” said Sheffey when the prosecutor confirmed he never told Cooper he did not want to proceed with the guilty plea. Madsen confirmed during redirect that although Sheffey signed the paperwork, he asked Cooper not to file it until he made a final decision.

Judge Kravitz asked Sheffey directly why he wanted to withdraw his plea. “In that plea deal, the stuff that they accused me for, I feel like I didn’t do,” said Sheffey.

Sheffey concluded his testimony, but time constraints prevented the prosecution from calling their witness, parties presenting arguments, and Judge Kravitz ruling on the motion.

The prosecutor plans to call Cooper to testify when parties reconvene on Jan. 9, 2026.

Judge Sentences Murder Defendant to 12 Years After Instagram Confession

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced a murder defendant who confessed to the victim’s family on social media to 12 years of imprisonment on Dec. 19.

Shaun Brown, 25, pleaded guilty on Oct. 10 to voluntary manslaughter while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for the fatal shooting of 47-year-old Dametrics Evans on Oct. 25, 2021 on the 4900 block of G Street, SE. Evans suffered from a gunshot wound to her back and an additional victim sustained a cervical spine injury.

The case was dismissed by prosecutors in June 2022, but reopened in January 2025 after Brown confessed to the murder during an Instagram live video.

As part of the plea deal, parties agreed to a sentence range of ten-to-12-and-a-half years of imprisonment.

At sentencing, Evans’ oldest daughter said at first she had sympathy for Brown but “he actually got away with it and really just wanted everyone to know.” The daughter said “you don’t take people you didn’t put here, you’re not God.”

Another one of Evans’ daughters said her mother meant everything to her and that she “will never again feel her arms around” her.

Evans’ oldest sister thanked everyone involved in the case for bringing the family closure so they “can feel somewhat whole again.”

A granddaughter of Evans told Brown “I hope you have time to think about it, because what you did was very wrong and you took somebody very special to us.”

“Grandma was the one thing that kept us happy, that made us feel safe…we could go to her whenever we needed her,” said the granddaughter.

Evans’ nephew, present on Webex, said Brown “shooting at an older female was completely unnecessary and doesn’t feel very masculine.”

After Evans’ family spoke, the prosecutor acknowledged “I don’t think I can say words more powerful than what the family has said.”

“The case was dismissed, the defendant had an opportunity to get away with it,” said the prosecutor. According to the prosecutor, Evans’ family provided the Instagram live video evidence for prosecutors to reopen the case.

The prosecutor played the video at sentencing, in which one of Evans’ daughters commented “You kill my mom and send a request.” Brown responded in the video “They closed the case though, you feel me, they couldn’t find no evidence.” Brown added “F*ck you, f*ck your mother. I don’t care no more.”

The prosecutor requested Brown serve ten-and-a-half years of imprisonment for manslaughter and two consecutive years for assault, followed by supervised release. They described Brown’s actions and comments as “reprehensible.”

Brown’s attorney, Michael Bruckheim, said “I wish I could offer words of comfort to the family,” but acknowledged they might not be receptive as Brown’s counsel.

“That was horrible,” said Bruckheim regarding the video confession. At the time of the confession, Bruckheim said although there was not a pending case against Brown, he was aware of his actions and carried them with him. After the case was reopened against Brown he admitted to his actions, said Bruckheim.

Bruckheim showed Judge Edelman Brown’s certificates of completion from a variety of classes during his incarceration. “Brown wants to be an example of how not to be and what not to do” when he returns to the community, said Bruckheim.

“He’s deeply remorseful of the actions he took, the words that he said, and the things that he did,” said Bruckheim.

Bruckheim read a letter in which Brown took responsibility for his actions and apologized. Brown said he hoped the knowledge gained from his classes would improve his decision making.

Bruckheim requested a total sentence of ten years of imprisonment for Brown. In addition, Bruckheim asked Judge Edelman to grant Brown the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which allows people under 25 who are convicted of certain crimes to have their convictions sealed or cleared after they successfully complete their sentence and potentially offers sentencing flexibility for the defendant.

Judge Edelman noted Brown was 21 at the time of the murder and said his conduct during and after the incident showed his immaturity. The judge granted Brown the YRA as a future benefit and incentive for Brown to successfully serve his sentence, but noted he did not lower Brown’s sentence with the YRA.

“I don’t know if there are enough adjectives to describe the conduct here and its effects…dangerous, reckless, violent, disastrous,” said Judge Edelman. Brown was “as insensitive as possible” in the video confession, expressed the judge.

Judge Edelman noted Brown showed prospects for rehabilitation and had no disciplinary infractions during his incarceration which was rare at the DC Jail.

The judge sentenced Brown to ten years for manslaughter and two consecutive years for assault, followed by five years of supervised release. Brown will be required to register as a gun offender in DC upon his release.

No further dates were set.

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The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a homicide that occurred on Dec. 31 on the 200 block of 37th Street, SE. Officers found two adult males with gunshot wounds; Darnell Bassett, 31, was pronounced dead, and there is 1 surviving victim with life-threatening injuries.

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The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest in the fatal shooting of Christopher Rashad Riles, 32, which occurred on May 17 on Irvington Street, Southwest. Royale McGlenn Jr., 19, has been charged with First Degree Murder While Armed (Premeditated) and was taken into custody by the MPD’s Fugitive Unit on Dec. 29.

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The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a homicide that occurred on Dec 19 in Northeast, Washington, D.C. Officers found 44-year-old Melvin Saunders, who was unconscious and not breathing, with a gunshot wound inside an apartment on the 1000 block of North Capitol Street, NE. Despite lifesaving efforts, Saunders was pronounced dead at the scene.

Chronic Violent Offender Sentenced to 22 Years For Murder

A defendant with 14 previous convictions, including a stabbing, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for what prosecutors say was the ambush murder of a teenager. In setting the term during a Dec. 19 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan said the evidence in the case leaned heavily toward punishment, rather than rehabilitation.

“I sentence people for specific things they’ve done that harm the community,” said Judge Ryan.

Maurice Corbin, 47, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Daquan Gardner on April 30, 2024 on the 1500 block of North Capitol Street, NE.

Corbin pleaded guilty in October to one count of second-degree murder while armed with a sentencing range of 20-to-24 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. In return, the prosecution agreed to dismiss an indictment on the remaining counts.

Without the plea deal, the DC sentencing guidelines set the punishment range for someone with Corbin’s record at between 14-to-46 years, said Judge Ryan.

Gardner’s mother in an impact statement demanded the maximum sentence for her son’s loss. “Daquan was a beautiful soul,” she said.

“You laugh and brag about what you did to my son. No mother should have to feel this pain,” she said.

In calling for the 24 year sentence, the prosecutor outlined the details of what she described as a “horrific” crime. Much of what transpired was captured on surveillance video which shows a person said to be Corbin leaving his apartment, calmly walking across the street to a store front where the victim was seated in his car. Corbin appears to open the passenger door and fire seven shots into the victim’s head.

A possible motive for the killing was that Corbin had gotten into an earlier altercation with Gardner, who fired shots at Corbin.

“The murder seems to be revenge for that shooting,” said the prosecutor, acknowledging that the victim was “no angel.”

Still, the prosecutor said it’s extraordinary that Corbin reportedly said, “he would do it again,” if he had to save his life or others, and that he was out of control with seeming disregard for the consequences. “The cowardice of this conduct cannot be overstated,” said the prosecutor, noting the crime was committed while Corbin was on probation for a stabbing in Maryland.

From defense attorney Julie Swaney’s perspective this was a tragedy with multiple dimensions. She said Corbin struggled with “battling personalities.”

Swaney described Corbin as “kind and polite,” and that he can be “extremely humble and loving,” when he is not struggling with inner demons.

Swaney said Crobin was on his own as a teenager and had only his adult sister to rely on. Further, his judgement was impacted by narcotics, particularly PCP which is known to trigger violent outbursts.

Even so, Swaney said Corbin’s fiancée was in the courtroom. “People are here for him,” said Swaney. She asked Judge Ryan to impose a 20 year sentence.

For his part, Corbin accepted responsibility, telling the court, “I’m sorry for what I’ve done.”

Judge Ryan split the range, sending Corbin to jail for 22 years with a recommendation that he be sent to a facility where he could get mental health and substance abuse treatment.

He will also face five years of supervised release and must register as a gun offender as well as pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund.

Given Corbin’s age, he could be facing a life sentence.

“It’s a sad state of affairs in my mind that the only thing we can do is send you away to try and figure out what happened,” said Judge Ryan.

Judge Says Suspect in Murder Case Can’t Withdraw Guilty Plea

In a brief appearance before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on Dec. 19, a suspect convicted in a murder case made an unsuccessful attempt to withdraw his guilty plea after his two co-defendants conceded they committed the crime.

“There is no basis to the motion to withdraw his plea,” said Judge Ryan to 20-year-old Ronald Henderson.

On May 30, Daveon Robinson, 19, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, voluntary manslaughter and assault with a dangerous weapon for the fatal shooting of Clayton Marshall, 32, and the non-fatal shooting of another individual on April 12, 2022 on the 2200 block of Savannah Street, SE.

Derricko Johnson, 21, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for the non-fatal shooting of two individuals at the same location, on January 2, 2022.

Henderson initially pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in the incident. However, he changed his mind, because, as Judge Ryan summarized, “He felt pressured to accept the agreement, and that the plea was cumulative.”

According to court documents, Robinson, Johnson and Henderson are members of the “Get Back Gang” and carried out plans to kill their rivals.

To reverse a plea, Judge Ryan said one of three conditions has to be satisfied–a legal assertion of innocence, an inordinate delay in the case or lack of competent counsel. Finding none applied to Henderson’s case, Judge Ryan said, “I have to deny your request for relief.”

Henderson did not comment on the ruling.

At the prosecutor’s request all three defendants will be sentenced on March 6, 3026.

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