Judge Orders Parties To Resolve Disagreements After Rescheduling Manslaughter Defendant’s Sentencing

A DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a homicide defendant’s sentencing due to parties having disagreements over certain specifics of the sentence.

In February 2019, Terica Younger pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of 43-year-old Talata Williams in a motor vehicle collision on the 2400 block of Good Hope Road, SE, during the early hours of Sept. 17, 2017. Younger’s blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit at the time of the crash, D.C. Witness previously reported. She also reportedly tested positive for fentanyl, a narcotic.

Judge Milton Lee said there was a misinterpretation between the defense and the prosecution within the terms of the sentencing agreement and that the sentencing set for Feb. 28 had to be rescheduled.

Parties need to verify if both supervised release and probation would be the accurate sentencing or reasoning should be shown why the defendant could not be on both at the same time.

Younger is now scheduled to be sentenced on March 28.

Plea Offer Extended to Sex Abuse Defendant

A sex abuse defendant was extended a plea offer approximately four months after the alleged crime.

The 31-year-old defendant is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting his girlfriend in November 2021. He also allegedly pulled a knife on her and threatened to “end both of them right there,” according to court documents. He faces charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and first-degree sex abuse.

On Feb. 25, the prosecutor said they already offered a plea deal for the defense’s consideration. The defendant recently replaced his lawyer.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 18.

Acquitted: Murder Defendant Arraigned, Scheduled for Trial

Editor’s note: On May 30, 2024 a jury acquitted Devonte Brothers of all charges connected to the homicide of Deron Leake. Brothers is still being held on homicide charges in another case.

A DC Superior Court judge arraigned a murder defendant on multiple charges and scheduled him for trial.

Deron Leake was 27-years-old when he was shot to death on Oct. 17, 2019. Following a reported altercation between multiple people that evening, 26-year-old Davonte Brothers allegedly received a handgun from another individual before firing multiple shots, killing Leake and injuring his friend. Brothers was arrested nearly a year later.

The prosecution has since returned an indictment and on Feb. 25 the defendant was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder while armed and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.

During that hearing, Judge Milton Lee scheduled a trial to begin in November 2023.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for a status hearing on May 13.

Man Charged in 11-Year-Old Davon McNeal’s Death Pleads Guilty

One of the four men charged in the fatal shooting of 11-year-old Davon McNeal pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed with aggravating circumstances.

Nearly two years ago, McNeal was shot in the head during a July Fourth celebration on the 1400 block of Cedar Street, SE. Police did not believe him to be the intended target, D.C. Witness previously reported.

Four suspects were arrested in connection with McNeal’s death: Daryle Bond, Marcel Gordon, Christen Wingfield and Carlo General. They were all initially charged with first-degree murder while armed but a DC Superior Court judge ruled that their cases only have enough evidence to go to trial on charges of second-degree murder while armed.

On Feb. 28, 21-year-old General pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed with aggravating circumstances. As part of the plea deal, parties agreed to recommend a prison sentence from 13 to 16 years.

General is the last of the four defendants to be convicted. Bond, 20, Gordon, 26, and Wingfield, 24, pleaded guilty to the same charge on Feb. 18. As part of their plea deal, parties agreed to recommend a seven-and-a-half to nine-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Bond, a 10-year prison sentence for Gordon and a nine-and-a-half-year sentence for Wingfield, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

All four men will be sentenced on June 3.

Murder Defendant’s Plea Offer to Expire by New Preliminary Hearing Date

A DC Superior Court judge postponed a preliminary hearing for a murder case as the defense considers a plea offer.

Christian Johnson is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the deadly shooting of 25-year-old Lavonte McCloud on Nov. 25, 2021, on the 1600 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE. The 31-year-old defendant is currently being held at DC Jail.

When parties met on Feb. 25, defense attorney Bruce Johnson Jr. asked for a postponement because he needed more time to review the plea offer, which was set to expire at the start of the preliminary hearing.

Johnson later showed up to the hearing remotely, which Judge Robert Okun said would not work for these types of proceedings.

The preliminary hearing, which will determine if Johnson’s case has enough evidence to go to trial, is now scheduled for April 1.

Document: February 27 Homicide Victim Identified

The Metropolitan Police Department announced a homicide occurred on Feb. 27.

At approximately 5:10 a.m. officers responded to the 100 block of N Street, NW, due to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located 32-year-old Michael Whitehead with gunshot wounds. He later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, according to the press release.

Document: MPD Officer Involved Shooting: 400 Block of Oakwood Street, Southeast

The Force Investigation Team of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Internal Affairs Bureau are investigating a MPD officer involved shooting that occurred on Feb. 26 on the 400 block of Oakwood Street, SE.

According to MPD documents, uniformed MPD officers responded to a call for a shooting at the location, where they located the suspect, armed with a firearm, lying in the middle of the street. The suspect pointed his firearm at the officers. Officers voiced numerous commands for the suspect to drop the firearm and the suspect did not comply. Two MPD officers discharged their service weapons, striking the suspect. The suspect also discharged his weapon at the officers. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The officers on scene did not sustain any injuries.

MPD’s investigation revealed that the suspect was involved in a verbal altercation with a victim at the location prior to officers arriving. The suspect brandished a firearm and shot the victim. The victim was transported to a hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect’s gun was recovered at the scene.

On Feb. 26, officers arrested and charged 44-year-old Lamiko Wheeler with assault with a dangerous weapon (gun), assault on a police officer while armed, possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of unregistered ammunition, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device.

Prosecution to Work Towards Indicting Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge continued a murder case at the prosecution’s request so they can have more time to work towards an indictment.

Judge Maribeth Raffinan granted the request made by the prosecutor in the case against Tywan Morris. Morris, 26, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the fatal stabbing of 27-year-old Danielle Stuckey on Oct. 17, 2021, on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. The defendant was arrested that same day and held in jail until a judge agreed to release him into the High Intensity Supervision Program in November.

Morris has been in compliance with his release conditions. He is scheduled to return to court on June 6.

Defendant Expected to Serve 6.25 Years After Pleading Guilty to Manslaughter

More than two years after Jamal Bandy was fatally shot in Congress Heights, the defendant charged in his death took a plea deal that includes an agreement between parties to recommend a six-and-a-quarter-year prison sentence.

On the evening of July 21, 2019, Metropolitan Police Department officers found Brandy on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE, suffering from gunshot wounds to his chest, abdomen, wrist and shoulder. He had broken bones and road rash as well, according to court documents. Brandy was pronounced dead later that night. He was 27-years-old.

Five months later, 31-year-old Romiel Hightower was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed. During a Feb. 24 hearing, defense attorney Jason Tulley informed DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee that after reviewing the prosecution’s offer for some time, his client has chosen to accept it.

Hightower pleaded down to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed. The other charge in the indictment of possessing a firearm during a crime of violence was dismissed.

Judge Lee scheduled Hightower to be sentenced on May 20.

Murder Defendant to Consider Plea Deal

A homicide defendant has been offered a plea deal and will begin to discuss it with his attorneys.

Gregory Washington is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and first-degree burglary while armed. The 32-year-old defendant is accused of killing 32-year-old Maryland man Alie Labay on Oct. 24, 2019, on the 900 block of 21st Street, NE.

The prosecution said that they extended a plea offer that will expire by his next hearing by March 3. The defense is expected to inform the court of their decision during the next scheduled hearing for this case on March 7.

Document: Second Arrest Made in 2021 Homicide

A second suspect in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Tyrone Wright has been arrested.

At approximately 6:43 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2021, officers responded to the 3800 block of Hayes Street, NE for the sounds of gunshots, according to a press release. There, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. Wright was pronounced dead on the scene. The other victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of his non-life-threatening injuries.

On Feb. 24, police arrested 24-year-old Alexandria resident Ronnie Wallace. This comes nearly a year after 29-year-old Deangelo Glover was arrested in connection with the homicide. Both face charges of first-degree murder while armed.

Murder Case Faces Possible Dismissal After Defense Says They Never Received Important Evidence

A DC Superior Court judge told prosecutors to show him why he should not dismiss a 2019 murder case following their alleged failure to disclose evidence even as the trial approached.

Elhadji Ndiaye, 23, is accused of fatally shooting 21-year-old Travis Ruth in the Buena Vista neighborhood of Southeast, DC in 2019.

The defense alleges that, over the last three years, the prosecutor failed to turn over evidence including a recording of a key witness as well as one of Ndiaye that may show he was not at the scene of the shooting when it occurred. The defense has motioned to dismiss the case, arguing the failure to turn over this evidence constitutes a Brady violation, referring to a prosecutor’s obligation to turn exculpatory evidence over to the defense.

During a Feb. 16 hearing, the lead detective took to the witness stand and explained that the email he sent the prosecution years ago containing these recordings has since disappeared. He was adamant the emails were sent out.

The defense says they never received them and now feel unprepared for trial, according to a dismissal motion by defense attorney Nikki Lotze. Parties had planned to go to trial this month, but the trial was canceled in light of the issues raised by the defense.

Parties discussed the defense motion over the course of several hearings, with the final one taking place on Feb. 22.

Judge Milton Lee asked the prosecution a series of follow-up questions based on the detective’s testimony, which the prosecution was unable to answer. He asked them for a written report regarding the information and any underlying data such as police reports to be delivered to the defense once they had it.

Towards the conclusion of the proceedings, Judge Lee said he found it troubling how little the evidence was acted upon. He said he could no longer hold Ndiaye at DC Jail.

“If you see a witness on the Metrobus on your way to pretrial services, you better take a different bus,” Judge Lee told the defendant, ordering him to refrain from any contact with witnesses.

He went on to say the detective had tunnel vision in this case, going as far as to say he made calls that were not meant for a detective to make.

Judge Lee concluded by saying that the “system has failed miserably in this case.” He gave the prosecutors about a month to show him why he should not dismiss this case outright. The next hearing is set for March 28.

Defense Counsel Receives More Time to Review Evidence in Murder Case

A murder defendant’s defense lawyer requested more time to review the evidence he received from the prosecution.

Amard Jefferson is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Kendall Brown on Aug. 7, 2021, on the 3000 block of Nelson Place, SE.

Defense attorney Jon Norris is new to the case and has not been able to meet his client to go over the evidence they received.

Jefferson, 23, will remain in custody as he awaits his next scheduled hearing on March 23.

2019 Murder Case to Go to Trial in 2023

A first-degree murder defendant is scheduled to go to trial next year.

Shortly after midnight on May 28, 2019, Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the 2600 block of Birney Place, SE, for the sound of gunshots. William Boykin was found on a sidewalk suffering from three gunshot wounds. The 33-year-old died from his injuries at a local hospital. A second victim survived a gunshot wound to his left foot, according to court documents.

Herman Williams was arrested for his alleged role in the homicide the following month. He has been held at DC Jail ever since. The 30-year-old defendant is indicted on charges of first-degree murder while armed, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and assault with intent to kill while armed.

During his most recent hearing on Feb. 23, parties agreed to schedule the trial to take place in June 2023.

Parties are set to reconvene for a status hearing on April 7.

Man Sentenced for Accessory to Murder

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced Elton Wiggins for accessory to murder two years after 34-year-old Eugene Isaac, Jr. was shot dead in a residential part of Truxton Circle.

Three defendants- 55-year-old Wiggins, 36-year-old Devon Stephens and 38-year-old Lejeevan Toudle were initially charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with Isaac’s death. A judge dismissed the case against Toudle after ruling it did not have enough evidence to go to trial. Stephens’ case remains open. Wiggins pleaded down to accessory after the fact to second-degree murder while armed and was sentenced to seven years in prison on Feb. 24.

“Why is there no mention it was done right outside of a school in broad daylight,” one of Isaac’s family members said during the proceedings. Wiggins and others were attempting to rob Isaac while he was sitting in his car on the 100 block of N Street, NW, on Feb. 15, 2020.

Issac’s mother, who was heavily involved in the case, recently passed away but family relayed that she would have been present for the sentencing. Multiple members of Isaac’s family advocated for a longer sentence. They voiced concerns over Wiggins’ capacity for rehabilitation.

“His life meant more- and means more than eight years,” Issac’s cousin said.

Parties agreed to recommend a prison sentence in the five to eight-year range for the accessory charge. Wiggins’ plea deal also addressed a District Court case, in which he agreed to plead guilty to using, carrying, possessing and brandishing a firearm. Parties agreed to recommend a seven-year sentence for that charge, to be served consecutively to the accessory charge.

Defense attorney Elizabeth Weller said her client has shown remorse for his actions and specifically wants to be incarcerated at least 100 miles away from Washington, DC.

“He has stepped up and tried to make right what he did, which is limited, but he still did,” Weller said.

Wiggins has spent the majority of his life incarcerated, with his first offense taking place when he was a young adult in 1985. He has served time for theft and multiple armed robberies. The defendant was on probation for robbery at the time of the homicide.

“He has been given many opportunities to address some of the behavior that has been conducted in his criminal history,” the prosecutor said, asking Judge Marisa Demeo to impose an eight-year sentence.

Wiggins took the opportunity to speak during his sentencing. He said he was not proud of what he has done in life, but did not go into the robbery with the expectation that someone would die.

“I can only imagine what the family thinks,” he said. “I’m guilty for what I’ve done. Guilty.”

Judge Demeo said the sentence was one that was difficult to come to, especially with the number of factors at play. Accessory to murder is not a gun offense, according to DC code, so that played a part in the sentence.

“While there’s no way to emotionally explain that to family members, the court has to look at the facts as they are being presented,” Judge Demeo said. “They probably feel like I cannot truly understand.”

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