Shooting Defendant Accepts Plea Deal at Trial Start

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A shooting defendant accepted a plea deal Aug. 6 on what was supposed to be the day one of his trial before DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow

James Guillory, 24, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and carrying a pistol without a license for allegedly shooting and injuring two individuals on June 15, 2023 on the 4600 block of Hillside Road, SE.

According to court documents, a male victim sustained a wound to the hip, and a female victim was hit with a ball bearing (BB) gunshot on the nose.

As the hearing started Guillory’s defense attorney, Varsha Govindaraju, alerted the court of his client’s intention to accept a plea deal extended by the prosecution.

According to Govindaraju, the deal required Guillory to plead guilty to two charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. The jury, which was previously chosen Aug. 5, was released.

Parties are set to return for sentencing on Sept. 20.