A non-fatal shooting defendant was deemed mentally competent to stand trial during a mental observation hearing with DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe on Aug. 27. That finding enabled the case to move forward to sentencing.
On Dec. 9, 2024, Anthrone Cabos, 28, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 600 block of Condon Terrace, SE, on June 28, 2020. One person sustained injuries during the incident.
cIn a report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), a forensic psychologist that evaluated Cabos deemed him mentally competent. A defendant can’t stand trial unless he is mentally competent enough to understand the charges and work with his attorney.
Cabos’ defense attorneys, Kevin O’Sullivan and Theodore Shaw, did not object to the psychologist’s findings and requested that they move forward to sentencing. The prosecution also did not object, and stated they would like to move forward as well.
However, Judge O’Keefe put on the record that he had a few concerns, including the defendant’s competency status, and pending acceptance and terms of the plea deal.
“The sentence doesn’t adequately address the magnitude of the crime,” Judge O’Keefe said.
The deal, which Cabos accepted in December 2024, requires Cabos to serve four years for the two charges he pleaded guilty to, and dismiss the remaining 12.
Judge O’Keefe highlighted that Cabos “seemed reluctant and unengaged” when taking the plea deal, almost as if he didn’t want to do it at the time.
The judge also put on the record that there were issues with Cabos and his counsel back in May, and believed Cabos was afflicted with delusional thinkingt as noted in the DBH report.
He then urged counsel to file pleadings to aid in sentencing, hoping they would address some of his concerns and bring and close case.
Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing Sept. 26.
