US DOJ: Community impact statements- August 2017 sentencings -- for crimes that occurred at 61 Adams St NE and 2200 block of North Capitol St NE

From: MPD-5D@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MPD-5D@yahoogroups.com]

Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2017 5:21 PM
To: MPD-5D@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MPD-5D] Community Impact Statements- August Sentencings

Good Afternoon 5D Residents,

Please be advised that the below criminal cases occurred in the Fifth District. These cases are scheduled for sentencing during August. If any community group would like to submit a community impact statement, please forward the statement to me at Vanessa.Goodwin@usdoj.gov two weeks before the sentencing.

For those unfamiliar with community impact statements, a community impact statement is a written statement that describes the harm or loss that a criminal offense has caused to a community.  D.C. Code Sections, 23-1904, and 1905 (2011) prescribes that the community affected by the defendant’s crime shall have the right to submit a statement prior to the imposition of sentence.  If a community chooses to submit a community impact statement, the Court shall take it into account when an offender is sentenced. Community impact statements recognize that the effects of crime can be far-reaching. Sometimes the victim of an offense is more than one person - it is a community. The purpose of community impact statements is to allow the community to explain to the Court and the offender how the crime has affected the community.

Pursuant to the statues, the term “community” means an informal or formal association or group of people living, working or attending school in the same place or neighborhood or a group sharing a common interest arising from a social, business, religious, governmental, scholastic or recreational association.  If the statement is being prepared by one person on behalf of the community organization or association, the group or association has to give that individual authorization to prepare and submit the statement on their behalf. 

The court will only accept a community impact statement that is presented by and through a prosecutorial authority, that is the D.C. Office of the Attorney General or the United States Attorney’s Office.  Communities can’t submit statements directly to the Court. The offender or their lawyer will also receive a copy of the completed community impact statement.  In order to allow time for your community impact statement to be submitted and fully considered by the sentencing judge, please return the completed community impact statement to me at least two weeks prior to the sentencing date.

Thank you for your assistance.

Thank you,

Vanessa Goodwin

Assistant United States Attorney

U.S. v. Xavier Jones, 2016-CF3-9833
Judge Patricia Broderick
Charge: Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
Sentencing Date: August 3, 2017

On June 25, 2016 at approximately 1:30 AM, the complainant picked up Defendant Xavier Jones in his cab in the area of 18th and Columbia Rd NW. The complainant then drove the defendant to 513 Morse Street NE, Washington, DC. During the drive, an argument began between Defendant and the complainant about the defendant smoking marijuana in the cab. Defendant Jones instructed the driver to pull the cab over in front of 513 Morse Street NE. Defendant Jones then shouted something inaudible to the complainant. Defendant Jones put a knife to complainant’s throat and then fled from the location. After officers arrived on the scene, the complainant spontaneously pointed at Defendant Jones and identified him as one of the individuals that put a knife to his throat. Search incident to arrest, Officers found a knife on Defendant Jones. Mr. Jones has a prior criminal history including a felony conviction.

U.S. v. Darnell James, 2017CF33868
Judge Maribeth Raffinan
Charge: Robbery
Sentencing: August 17, 2017

On March 4, 2017, Officers Velez, Onoja, and Lea were operating a marked scout car when they received a dispatch in reference to an armed robbery at 61 Adams Street, NE, Washington, D.C. The above listed officers immediately responded to the location of the offense and stood by for a lookout. The 5th 

District Dispatcher voiced a lookout for two males with masks and a handgun. The victim flagged down the police officer and advised that at approximately 8:05pm, he was walking on the sidewalk at 2113 Flagler Place, NW when he was approached by D1 and D2. D2 pulled out a gun, pointed it at the victim’s chest and stated ‘give me your [stuff]’. At this time, D1 began patting the victim’s pockets and retrieved victim’s brown wallet with miscellaneous cards and $59.00 in US currency. Both D1 and D2 then fled on foot.

Police officers canvased the area and observed two black males emerge from South alley directly next to 22 V Street, NW matching the description provided by the victim. The victim identified the two men as the people that robbed him. D1 was identified to be the defendant.

Mr. James has a prior criminal history including a felony conviction.

U.S. v. Tyrone Salters, 2016CF317037

Judge Maribeth Raffinan
Charge: Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
Sentencing: August 17, 2017

On October 18, 2016 in the 2200 Block of North Capitol Street NE, officers responded to the listed location for a robbery. Once on scene, officers were met by V-1 and V-2. Officers observed that V-2 had a wound on his face that was bleeding profusely. V-1 stated that while she and V-2 were walking northbound on North Capitol St NW, they were approached by the Defendant and Suspect-2. V-1 stated that that the Defendant took out a black handgun and pointed it to V-1’s head and stated "we need phones, wallet everything". V-1 then stated that Suspect-2 tried to approach V-1 and take its stuff at which point it shoved Suspect-2 and started throwing items at Suspect-2. V-2 stated that the Defendant then took the black handgun and used it to strike him in the face causing a laceration to V-2's face and swelling. V-2 went into the street to try and get help and as several cars stopped the Defendant and Suspect-2 walked off heading Southbound on North Capitol St NE without obtaining any property from V-1 or V-2. The Defendant was identified and arrested.

Mr. Salters has a prior criminal history including a felony conviction.

Vanessa Goodwin

Assistant U.S. Attorney
U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia
555 Fourth Street, N.W.  Room 5114
Washington D.C. 20530
(202) 252-7124
Vanessa.Goodwin@usdoj.gov