A repeat offender, who was wounded multiple times in a shootout, was sentenced to 72 months in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno on April 30.
Charles Brown, 64, was accused of one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful possession of firearm with a prior crime of violence. The counts stem from a Sept. 7 incident on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE around 10 p.m. Brown pleaded guilty to the crimes on Jan. 27.
The prosecutor detailed a harrowing surveillance video depicting Brown’s fateful encounter with three unidentified individuals in an alley that night. He is seen approaching the group with what appears to be a gun in his right hand and opens fire. Gunfire was returned and the footage shows the trio fleeing with Brown crumpling to the ground in agony. A member of the group was wounded in the exchange. Brown was the only person arrested in the incident.
As the sequence unfolds, Brown repeatedly tries to stand up but falls to the ground crawling, ultimately reaching into his pocket and calling for assistance. Moments later a car shows up and the driver’s side door opens in an apparent effort to hand off Brown’s gun.
“That reflected the defendant’s awareness that he could not get caught with a gun,” said the prosecutor, given Brown’s extensive criminal background. The prosecutor asked for a total of 17 years imprisonment for the two offenses, giving Brown credit for accepting responsibility for his actions.
Arguing on Brown’s behalf, attorney Charles Haskell said Brown realizes he made a huge mistake. Brown claimed he was calling 911 for help.
“He (Brown) is constantly thinking about the victim. It’s haunting him.” Haskell noted Brown’s extreme hardships dealing with drug and alcohol abuse and that he’s been wounded three times.
“Give Mr. Brown a chance at redemption,” implored Haskell in asking the court for a total of five years’ punishment.
Struggling to stand, his voice shaking, Brown expressed remorse. “I fell short,” he said. ‘I want to come back to the community and give back instead of taking away.”
“There’s no excuse for what I done,” he continued.
Weighing the evidence, Judge Salerno said Brown exhibited “incredibly dangerous behavior.”
“This is as serious as it gets,” he said, reflecting on Brown’s lifetime criminal record including assault, destruction of property, arson, trespassing and robbery.“We’re getting too old for this.”
Judge Salerno sentenced Brown to 72 months total with the two charges served concurrently.
That along with three years of supervised release. Additional sanctions include paying $200 to the Victims of Violent Crime fund and another $450 for unpaid obligations from his previous convictions.
Upon release Brown will have to register as a gun offender. He will be 70-years-old at that time.
No further dates were set for the case.
