Shooting Defendant Pleads Guilty to Strangling Girlfriend

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DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur accepted a plea agreement on July 8 for Joshua Goodwin that covered charges for a domestic violence incident.

Goodwin, 30, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and felony strangulation for his assault on his girlfriend on Feb. 24 on the 4600 block of Hillside Road, SE.

According to court documents, Goodwin got into a verbal altercation with his girlfriend of three years, leading to him grabbing her by the neck and strangling her until she could not breathe. When the victim managed to get away, Goodwin retrieved a handgun and began shooting inside and out the window of the apartment where the victim’s children were present. The children were not harmed.

Two other people intervened to help the defendant’s girlfriend. One was grazed on his wrist by a bullet.

In court, Carrie Weletz, Goodwin’s attorney, stated Goodwin was accepting a plea agreement for assault with a dangerous weapon and felony strangulation.

Assault with a dangerous weapon has a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and/or a fine of $25,000. Felony strangulation has maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a fine of $12,500.

Goodwin’s sentencing is set for Sept. 13