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By
Emily Nordberg
- January 24, 2025
Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Shooting
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Suspects
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DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian sentenced a shooting defendant to 156 months of incarceration during a hearing on Jan. 24, as the defendant claimed the court was biased against him.
On Sept. 24, following a week-long trial, a jury convicted Calvon Brown, 31, of aggravated assault knowingly while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. The charges stemmed from his involvement in a shooting that injured an individual on March 22, 2024, on the 2600 block of Bowen Road, SE.
Following his conviction, Tammy Thom, Brown’s attorney, filed a motion to withdraw as counsel and delay the sentencing, stating their communications have deteriorated, and they face irreconcilable differences.
Brown also filed a motion for a new judge to review the case and for a new trial, arguing there was judicial bias from the court that influenced the verdict and fairness of the case.
“I ain’t get a fair case,” Brown said while detailing examples from trial he felt demonstrated hostility from the court. Brown cited issues when setting the trial date, explaining that the court’s date was not compatible with the defense counsel’s availability based on her representing another case.
Brown also complained that the victim, who is detained in an unrelated matter, was allowed to change into civilian clothing for his testimony when other inmate witnesses typically have to stay in their jumpsuits.
Additionally, Brown alluded to a hostile environment leading to a rushed and coerced verdict by the jury.
The prosecution had no response to the defense counsel’s motion to withdraw, but stated the prosecution felt the trial proceeded in a fair manner and the verdict was supported with evidence.
Judge Christian denied the claims of hostility as well as the defendant’s motions for new counsel, a new judge, and a new trial, stating that there was ample evidence to support the guilty verdict.
Furthermore, Judge Christian sentenced Brown to 132 months for aggravated assault while armed with five years supervised release that is set to run consecutively with 24 months and three years supervised release for unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.
For possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, Brown is sentenced to 108 months with three years supervised release and 32 months and three years supervised release he received for the charge of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home/business. These sentences are set to run concurrent to one another and any other sentence.
Brown will be required to register as a gun offender and pay a total of $400 to the Victim of Violent Crime Compensation fund in addition to the standing total of 156 months in confinement.
Thom said Brown would file an appeal today after the hearing.
No further dates were set.