Plea Deal Falls Apart in Domestic Violence Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 26, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A domestic violence defendant decided against entering into a guilty plea after disagreeing with the prosecution’s proffer of facts. 

The defendant was initially charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon.

According to the proffer of facts, the defendant pulled a gun during an argument with the victim. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers later found cocaine at his house.

However, after going through the details, the defendant said he does not remember ever pulling a gun on the victim, which had been the basis for the assault charge.

The prosecutor was not willing to drop the simple assault charge and Judge Michael O’Keefe said he does not want someone to plead guilty to an act that they did not commit.

Defense attorney Sabitiyu Abou said his client initially accepted the deal pleading guilty to simple assault and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance during the Feb. 26 hearing. 

The next hearing on May 14 remains in place unless the parties settle on a new plea agreement or the defense decides to go to trial.

In the meantime, the defendant is being held at the DC Jail.