Prosecution Prepares to Offer Murder Suspect 2nd Plea Deal

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 30, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

During a motions hearing, the prosecution said it would offer a murder defendant another opportunity to accept a plea deal.

Leon Stewart, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Darnell Lee Richardson, 29, in March of 2016 on Interstate 295. According to court documents, the shooting occurred on the 3400 block of Benning Road, NE near the Pepco Benning Road Plant.

The defendant decided May 29 to reject the prosecution’s initial plea offer. However, the prosecutor said he would have another plea deal ready for an evidentiary hearing scheduled on June 22.

In preparation for the evidentiary hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff said she would listen to and watch audio recordings and videos from a visitation Stewart had while in jail.

In September of 2016, Stewart received a call in jail that supposedly connected him to the death of a witness in the homicide case.