DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced a homicide defendant to 27 years after hearing emotional statements from the victim’s family as well as the defendant’s in a hearing on April 4.
Amard Jefferson, 26, was found guilty of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, carrying a pistol without a license outside his home or business, and obstructing justice of a witness or officer by influence or delay. The charges stem from the fatal shooting of Kendall Brown, 20, on Aug. 7, 2021, at the 3000 block of Nelson Place, SE.
According to the witness, Brown and Jefferson began shouting at each other over some bottles of liquor, leading to Jefferson shooting Brown.
Judge Brandt allowed the victim’s family to make impact statements that included the grandmother, Brown’s two sisters, her cousin, and her mother, all urging Judge Brandt to seek the maximum sentence for Jefferson.
In a tearful statement, Brown’s younger sister briefly addressed the defendant by saying, “She had so much to look forward to in life… and you don’t get to play God.”
The victim’s mother said she still speaks about her daughter in the present tense, and Judge Brandt replied, “Kendall will always be in your heart, so you don’t have to speak about her in the past tense.”
The prosecution addressed the defense’s sentencing memorandum, filed by Michelle Stevens, Amard’s attorney. According to the prosecution, the defense wrongly suggested Brown was to blame, and asked Judge Brandt for the maximum sentence in the case, which was 30 years of incarceration.
Stevens said they were only seeking to “place things in context,” and it wasn’t their intention to blame the victim. She also asked Judge Brandt to impose a sentence under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) which would seal Jefferson’s conviction if he successfully completes all the requirements. Stevens stated that although it would be a difficult request even though it was officially recommended.
Judge Brandt allowed Jefferson’s mother to address the court with her own statement..
She expressed similar challenges to the victim’s family and expressed gratitude saying, “Thank you, Ms. Stevens, for treating my son like your son, and thank you for getting him dressed every day when I couldn’t.”
Judge Brandt said she never “takes pleasure in sentencing people to prison,” especially when she sees the support and sadness on both sides of the court.
The judge rejected the defense’s request for a YRA sentencing, and Jefferson was sentenced to 20 years for second-degree murder while armed, five years for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two years for unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, two years for carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and five years for obstructing justice of a witness or officer by influence or delay.
Possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business are to run concurrently to all other counts, totaling 27 years of incarceration.
Jefferson is also required to pay the Victims of Violent Crime Fund $500 and register as a gun offender.
No further dates were set.
