One Defendant Accepts, the Other Rejects a Homicide Plea Deal

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In two Aug. 31 hearings, one homicide defendant accepted a plea deal but the other suspect in the case turned down an offer to reduce the charges against him.

Trey Prillerman, 19, and Deon Walters, also 19, were originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, attempt to commit robbery while armed, and unarmed carjacking for their involvement in an Oct. 1, 2020, incident on the 6200 block of 8th Street, NW that claimed the life of 42-year-old Arthur Daniels IV.

According to prosecutors, Prillerman and Walters were at the crime scene when Daniels arrived in his vehicle, where he was subsequently shot before Prillerman stole his gold Cadillac and Walters fled the scene on foot.

Prillerman accepted an agreement to plead guilty to one count of robbery in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges.

Parties agreed the sentencing guideline for Prillerman’s robbery charge should be between three and five years, and will run consecutively to his sentence in another homicide, where he faces 12 years for voluntary manslaughter.

Parties are expected back before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan for Prillerman’s sentencing on Dec. 15.

Prosecutors extended a plea offer that would have Walters’ first-degree murder charge lessened to second-degree in exchange for dismissing all other charges.

Sylvia Smith, Walters’ defense attorney, alerted Judge Raffinan that Walters was rejecting the offer.

Parties are expected back on Sept. 1 to discuss their readiness for Walters’ October trial.

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