D.C. Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro sentenced a stabbing defendant to one year of probation on June 8, following an emotional hearing.
Jasmine Armwood, 34, pleaded guilty on March 19 to assault with significant bodily injury and possession of a prohibited weapon for her involvement in a stabbing on Nov. 29, 2025 at the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.
Judge Di Toro sentenced Armwood to one year in prison, all suspended, in favor of one year of probation. According to Judge Di Toro, Armwood already served approximately six months. She noted that while drugs and alcohol are often serve as a distraction, they also have the power “to turn things sideways, like we’re seeing now” in Armwood’s case.
The prosecution emphasized the severity of the attack by presenting evidence of the physical injuries the victim sustained of a laceration across her stomach.
They also read a note to the court from the victim who said that she was still in severe pain, lacked health insurance, and remained worried for her safety.
The note also indicated the victim’s desire to help Armwood move forward. “We want to provide a path to turn her life around,” according to a line in the note.
Armwood’s attorney, John Machado, described the challenging factors throughout Armwood’s life, including the she was abused as a child and grew up in the foster care system until she aged out.
Machado described how Armwood turned to drugs to cope with chronic mental health struggles and has endured a severe psychological toll after being separated from her newborn child for the last five months during her incarceration.
The defense emphasized Armwood’s active path toward rehabilitation, noting that she earned a certification while incarcerated and has been working toward her GED. Under the terms of her sentence, Armwood is required to attend vocational school if she does not finish her GED, and she must participate in mandatory substance abuse classes and utilize mental health resources.
Judge Di Toro ultimately denied the prosecution’s request for a formal stay-away order, as Armwood and the victim do not share a prior relationship. However, the judge gave a stern warning to the defendant regarding future conduct, noting that she may find herself living in close proximity to the victim after release.
However, if Atwood fails to live up to the terms of her probation, the judge could reimpose her jail sentence.
No further dates were set.
