A domestic violence stabbing defendant pleaded guilty and was given a suspended sentence by DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean on March 17.
Dameera Williams, 25, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for her involvement in a domestic violence stabbing on the 2400 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE, on Jan. 8. The victim was stabbed in the back.
In court, Williams accepted an offer from prosecutors that required her to plead guilty to simple assault. She understood that the maximum penalty for this charge is 180 days imprisonment. In exchange, she would not be charged with the more serious offense.
Had the case gone to trial, the prosecution said they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that, “Williams got in a verbal altercation with the victim, and once the victim turned his back away from her, she grabbed a knife and stabbed him in the back.”
After accepting Williams’ guilty plea, Judge McLean allowed the prosecutors to read a victim impact statement that supported rather than criticized her.
in summary, wrote that Williams is his significant other and that his family is struggling without her. It has been hard being a single father to their two young children, and in their 14 year long relationship, she had never been violent toward him or their children once, he said.
On the other hand, prosecutors said Williams’ crimes were unnecessary and horrific. The victim suffered a collapsed lung and a required blood transfusion in the ambulance. Furthermore, Williams lied to police officers that the victim had fallen on the knife in an open dishwasher, asserted the prosecution.
Prosecutors requested a 180 day sentence, suspending all but 120 days in hopes of preventing further harm.
Theresa Jenkins, Williams’ attorney requested a fully suspended sentence and one year of probation.
Williams told Judge McLean that she wants to go home and be with her kids.
Judge McLean sentenced Williams to 180 days, suspending all but time served, and one year of supervised probation. She is required to complete anger management courses and take part in mental health assessments.
Following the hearing, Williams will be released from the DC Jail. If she fails to meet the requirements of her probation, Judge McLean can require her to complete the required jail time.
No further dates are set for the parties.
