Plea Bargain Upsets Victim’s Family in Homicide Case

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A victim’s family and friends spoke out against a plea deal in a homicide case during a trial readiness hearing on Feb. 3.

Collin Potter, 30, is charged with the second-degree murder of 36-year-old Vongell Lugo. Potter, a former Navy Corpsman, stabbed Lugo to death on Jan. 6, 2019, on the 2800 block of Wisconsin Avenue, NW.

The court offered Potter a plea deal, which would drop all additional charges other than second-degree murder. This includes kidnapping and first-degree sexual abuse. By accepting this deal, Potter would spend 14-16 years in prison.

Potter accepted this offer.

Lugo’s lifelong friend, behalf of the family, said the victim’s family believes the range of time Potter received in prison does not match the crime, and that he is a danger to society.

“Vongell was a friend, son, brother, uncle, and he will not live the rest of his life,” said Lugo’s friend.

The family wants Potter to receive the maximum sentence, which is up to 40 years in prison, the friend said.

Lugo’s friends and family also believe that the court is overlooking vital information that would lead to a first-degree murder charge.

“Nothing could have provoked that type of reaction,” said another one of Lugo’s friends.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo accepted the plea for today, but noted her final decision would be made at the next hearing. She assured the victim’s friends and family that she would take their statements into account.

The next hearing is set for April 14.

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