Prosecution Calls Shooting Defendant a ‘Danger to the Community,’ as Judge Re-sentences Him to Two Years

By Maggie Rhoads [former] , Carmen Quinteros [former], Gelela Tesfaye [former], Birchard Allen IV [former] - June 3, 2024
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

A defendant, who was on probation for a non-fatal shooting, was re-sentenced on June 3 by DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt following his arrest for violating his probation conditions. 

Stephan Harper, 24, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting that left one individual with a wound to his foot. The incident occurred on Sept. 15, 2019, on the 3900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SW.  

Harper accepted a guilty plea that would reduce his charges to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license outside home or place of business on July 27, 2020. 

He was sentenced to two years, all suspended, under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which would have sealed his case after he successfully completed his requirements. However, due to his arrest during probation, the sentencing under the YRA is now moot.

In July 2022, the court received a violation report which read Harper was in possession of a weapon in Chesapeake, Maryland and in Arlington, Virginia, and had two outstanding warrants for his arrests because of obstruction of justice and failing to appear in court. 

Harper’s defense attorney, Sellano Simmons, said the reason Harper failed to appear in court was because he was detained in a District matter.  

The prosecution asked Brandt to sentence Harper to the two years remaining in his suspended sentence, with three years of supervised release, as they deemed the defendant “a danger to the community.” 

The prosecution also requested this sentence run consecutively with the future sentencing in Maryland. 

Judge Brandt denied the request and said she could not rule on whether the terms can run consecutively because the defendant has not yet been sentenced in Maryland. 

Simmons requested Judge Brandt sentence Harper to six months. 

“He’s been committed of yet another firearms offense,” Judge Brandt said, denying his request.

Judge Brandt resentenced Harper to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. 

Harper is also required to register as a gun offender in the District, and pay 200 dollars to the Victims of Violent Crimes Fund (VVCF). 

No additional dates were set.