DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz sentenced a chronic violent offender for his involvement in a fatal stabbing at the DC Jail during a hearing on Oct. 30.
On Oct. 17, Mussay Rezene, 33, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his involvement in the fatal stabbing of 34-year-old Darrow Johnson on Aug. 17, 2023 at the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE.
Through the plea deal, parties agreed to a 15-to-20 year sentence.
During the hearing, the prosecutor deemed the stabbing “gory,” stating that the incident “encapsulates the type of person [Rezene] is.”
According to the prosecution, Rezene attacked Johnson in a physical therapy room at the jail with a homemade shank and tried to flush it down a toilet.
The prosecution displayed body-worn camera footage from Rezene’s arrest three minutes after the stabbing, where he could be seen smiling and telling people he was “alright.”
The prosecutor requested Rezene be sentenced to 20 years, highlighting that Johnson was an “unsuspecting and unarmed individual,” at the time of the incident.
Johnson’s wife and daughters provided victim impact statements, highlighting his devotion to being a good father and partner. His eldest daughter told the court she’s had to step into a caretaker role since his loss, in order for their mom to have multiple jobs to make ends meet.
“Losing him was losing stability and comfort,” Johnson’s daughter cried, adding “a fair and serious sentence will show that [Johnson’s] life mattered.”
“He was my hero and best friend,” Johnson’s wife read a letter from their youngest daughter, who added “please stop the violence because no family should have to feel this kind of pain.”
The prosecution discussed Rezene’s adult criminal history, which started in 2005, and went through 2021, when he was arrested for the murder of 17-year-old Brayan Villatoro, two-weeks after his involvement in a deadly mass shooting. Rezene received a 50 year sentence for Villatoro’s murder, and three years imprisonment for the mass shooting.
According to the prosecution, Rezene has a pending federal gun trafficking case, robbery and shooting case in Atlanta, Georgia, and multiple convictions for violent offenses. The prosecution also claimed he is known to tamper with witnesses, and is the “epitome of a menace to society.”
The prosecution claimed Rezene had an “utter lack of remorse,” for everything, and refused to participate in the pre-sentence report process – an interview that helps the judge make decisions about sentencing.
“He doesn’t think the law applies to him,” the prosecution insisted, requesting a 20 year sentence.
Camille Wagner, Rezene’s attorney, requested he be sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment, stating that he accepted responsibility for his actions in the case.
“I sincerely apologize for my actions,” Rezene told Judge Kravitz, adding that he has had time to think about his life, future and change while he’s been incarcerated.
“All that I have is hope,” Rezene stated, “I’m not a monster like [the prosecution] paints me out to be.”
“I ask you to give me a chance, your honor – I want better for myself. Please give me that chance,” he said.
Judge Kravitz sentenced Rezene to 20 years of incarceration for this murder, which will run consecutively to all other sentences.
Parties are not slated to reconvene.
