Repeat Homicide Offender Accepts Plea Deal

A repeat homicide offender accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Oct. 17.

Mussay Rezene, 32, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal stabbing of 34-year-old Darrow Johnson on Aug. 17, 2023 at the Central Treatment Facility (CTF) of the DC Jail located on the 1900 block of E Street, SE. Johnson succumbed to his injuries on Aug. 19, 2023.

During the hearing, Camille Wagner, Rezene’s attorney, alerted the court of his intent to accept a plea deal extended by prosecutors. According to Wagner, the deal required Rezene to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of 15-to-20 years of imprisonment.

According to the prosecution, had the case gone to trial, the prosecution would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that on Aug. 17, 2023, Rezene repeatedly stabbed Johnson as they walked into a physical therapy room at the CTF. The incident was caught on surveillance footage, and Rezene hid the “home-made” shank that was used.

The prosecution claimed that Rezene attempted to flush the shank down a toilet, but officers were able to recover it and immediately detained Rezene for the attack.

Parties agreed that the sentence for this matter will run consecutively to all other sentences that Rezene faces or has received, including a 45-year sentence in connection to 17-year-old Brayan Villatoro’s murder on Sept. 18, 2021, and an upcoming sentence for his involvement in a Sept. 4, 2021 deadly mass shooting that killed 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner, and injured three others.

According to the parties, Rezene also faces a federal case for gun trafficking.

Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing on Oct. 30.

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Defendant Pleads Guilty in Gruesome Ivy City Hotel Homicide

A homicide defendant accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Oct. 17.

George Sydnor, 46, was originally charged with three counts of first-degree premeditated murder while armed in an especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel offense, first-degree burglary while armed, and kidnapping while armed for his involvement in the fatal stabbing of 31-year-old Christy Bautista on March 31, 2023, at the Ivy City Hotel on the 1600 block of New York Avenue, NE.

During the hearing, Jesse Winograd, Sydnor’s attorney, alerted the court of his intent to accept a plea deal extended by prosecutors – a week before his trial was slated to begin with DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman. Sydnor specifically requested to accept the deal before Judge Kravitz.

According to Winograd, the deal required Sydnor to plead guilty to first-degree premeditated murder while armed in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. The parties agreed to a sentencing range of 35-to-40 years of imprisonment.

The prosecution stated that, had the case gone to trial, they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Sydnor, who had a warrant out for his arrest due to a failure to appear at a sentencing, broke into Bautista’s ground-level hotel room on the night of the incident after having watched her through an open window shade. When he was in the room, according to the prosecution, he attacked Bautista.

According to the prosecution, Bautista was able to open the room door and scream for help before she was pulled back into the room. A witness called 911, and when officers arrived, Sydnor answered the door and told them everything was fine.

An officer looked into the room through the window, and saw blood on Sydnor’s hands – they entered the room and located Bautista suffering from 34 stab wounds to the head, neck and torso, according to the prosecution.

They insisted Sydnor did not act in self-defense and did not have a legal justification for his actions.

Bautista’s family and friends filled the courtroom as Sydnor accepted the deal.

Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing on Jan. 16.

Bus Stabbing Co-Defendants Accept Plea Deal, Release Denied

Two women charged in connection to a Metro bus stabbing and assault accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Oct. 17.

Ashley Brown, 27, and Donea Williams, 31, were originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for their involvement in a physical assault that turned into a stabbing aboard a bus at the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and 28th Street, SE on Dec. 8, 2024. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

During the hearing, Russell Hairston, Williams’ attorney, and Peter Cooper, Brown’s attorney, alerted the court of their intent to accept a plea deal extended by the prosecution.

According to the defense, the deal required both defendants plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.

Parties agreed that each defendant’s sentence will be based on the voluntary sentencing guidelines, dependent on their criminal history. The maximum penalty Brown and Williams face is ten years in prison, and/or a fine of $25,000.

According to the prosecution, had the case gone to trial, they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that on the day of the incident, Brown boarded a bus in which the victim was a passenger.

Prosecutors claimed that Brown called Williams to meet the bus at the incident location, and as the bus approached the location, Brown punched the victim multiple times. As Williams boarded the bus, she brandished a knife and stabbed the victim twice on his head and three times in the back. Prosecutors argued Brown told Williams to “stab him up,” as she attacked the victim.

“You encouraged Ms. Williams to continue stabbing [the victim],” Judge Kravitz asked Brown – she said yes, but insisted she never personally attacked him with a weapon.

Cooper and Hairston requested Williams and Brown be released pending sentencing, stating that they could utilize the time to prove their ability to serve a sentence through a probationary period.

“[Brown’s] future depends a lot on her performance between now and then,” Cooper told Judge Kravitz.

Hairston added that Williams has a young child whom she would like to spend time with before her sentencing. According to Hairston, Williams has gotten 25 educational certificates and vocational training during her incarceration.

The prosecution opposed the request, stating that they accepted a plea deal, which was a conviction, and they continue to pose a threat to the victim.

“I’ll be very interested in learning more about [the defendants] at sentencing,” Judge Kravitz said. However, he denied the requests for release.

Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing Dec. 19.

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