Victim’s Mother On Speaker Phone While Killer Pleads Guilty

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 7, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During a status hearing on Feb. 6, a victim’s mother was placed on speaker phone while the murder defendant, who killed her son, pleaded guilty.

MacArthur Venable is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 34-year-old James Eric Ferrell on the unit block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE on Oct. 31, 2018.

Before Venable entered a guilty plea, the prosecutor asked DC Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring to call the victim’s mother and place her on speaker phone so that she could listen to the defendant plead guilty since she was unable to make it to court.

The judge agreed, and the mother was able to listen to Venable accept the prosecution’s plea deal for second-degree murder while armed.

Counsel agreed that Venable would be subject to serve 15 to 18 years in prison. Then five years of supervised release afterward. Judge Josey-Herring accepted Venable’s plea.

Venable is currently in a mental health program called Step-Down. His attorney requested him to be sentenced after he completes his program.

Venable’s sentencing is scheduled to occur on July 20.