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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/27/AR2008052701362.html?nav=rss_metro
By Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 28, 2008; Page A01
Former Prince George's County homeland security official Keith A. Washington was sentenced to 45 years in prison yesterday for fatally shooting one unarmed furniture deliveryman and wounding another at his Accokeek home last year.
Circuit Court Judge Michael P. Whalen said the evidence contradicted Washington's claim that he was under attack by the two larger men when he opened fire. "There wasn't one discernible injury [on Washington] to any of the medical personnel who examined him," said the judge, who imposed a term five years longer than prosecutors had sought.
Washington, who was also a county police officer at the time of the shooting, addressed the court for more than 10 minutes, apologizing to his family and friends for putting them through what he called a "spectacle." He spoke of his effort to live with "courage and integrity," and he cited historical figures, including Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. DuBois, Crispus Attucks, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.
Washington, 46, admitted no wrongdoing. At one point, he turned to Marilynn Clark, mother of slain deliveryman Brandon Clark, and said, "I did not murder your son."
"I feel your pain," he said. "No parent should ever have to bury a child. . . . I don't want you to go away thinking some monster shot your son and is indifferent to his death."
Turning to Robert White, the surviving deliveryman, Washington said, "I want you to know, Mr. White, I have no animosity towards you. I feel your pain also."
Later, as Washington was led out of the courtroom, he appeared to mouth the words "I'm okay" to his wife, Stacey Washington, and their daughter.
Stacey Washington said after the hearing: "Keith Washington is now and will forever be my hero. I saw what happened. I saw him being beaten. He is a protector and a defender."
Washington's lawyers, who had requested that he be given a five-year term, declined to comment.
State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said he thought the sentence was appropriate. He said Washington opened fire "basically because furniture was delivered late."
Clark and White were at Washington's home in Accokeek on Jan. 24, 2007, to swap one set of Marlo Furniture bed rails for another. An argument broke out between the men and Washington, who opened fire. Clark, 22, died nine days later. White, 37, was wounded.
During the trial in February, White testified that he and Clark did nothing to provoke the shooting. He said Washington, already angry that he had been waiting all day for the delivery, became enraged when Clark asked why the original set of bed rails wasn't dismantled. Washington replied, "[Expletive], you telling me what to do in my house?" White testified.
White said that he suggested he and Clark leave and that he got between Clark and Washington. He testified that Washington said, "I know how to get you the [expletive] out of my house."
Several months after the shooting, Washington left his homeland security post, and he was later granted medical disability from the police force. His disability benefits and police pension are not affected by his convictions, county spokesman John Erzen said.
The case has drawn attention in part because of past abuse allegations against Washington and because of his ties to County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D). Washington was a driver for Johnson during the 2002 campaign, and Johnson named him deputy director of homeland security two years later. The two are members of the same college fraternity, Omega Psi Phi.
After the shooting, Johnson distanced himself from Washington. "We are not friends," he said at one point. He also said that he "never promoted" Washington, despite having given him the homeland security position.
Yesterday, at a news conference, Marilynn Clark said of Washington's remarks in court, "I didn't want to hear it."
White said he accepted Washington's apology. "Justice has prevailed," White said.
During the four-hour sentencing hearing, Whalen also heard testimony about an incident in March in which correctional officers found a handcuff key in the breast pocket of Washington's orange jumpsuit shortly before he was to be transferred to the Calvert County jail.
Lt. Avery Johnson of the county corrections department testified that Washington provided two explanations for the key. In one version, Johnson said, Washington said he found it on the windowsill of his cell. In another version, Washington said the key was "planted," Johnson said. Corrections investigators have not determined how Washington got the key, Johnson said.
Also yesterday, Daniel Smart, a retired county police sergeant, testified about an incident years ago in which Washington became enraged at Smart's request that he drive an intoxicated man from a scene where officers were arresting drug dealing suspects. Washington went "from zero to 100, with nothing in between," Smart said.
The 45-year sentence is high for people convicted of the offenses of which Washington was found guilty: involuntary manslaughter, two counts of first-degree assault and two handgun violations. A jury acquitted him of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
In court, Whalen said that Washington had put his police handgun inside the waistband of his jeans in anticipation of the furniture deliverymen's arrival. Whalen said White and Clark had begun working at 6 a.m. that day and had made numerous deliveries without incident.
Finally, Whalen said, Washington's voice in court yesterday -- when he struggled to maintain his composure -- was far different from that of the "very composed man" who told a 911 operator on the night of the shootings that he had been beaten.
Yesterday, as Washington was preparing to leave the Calvert County Detention Center, officers found that he had two binder clips and a paper clip, which are not allowed under jail rules, said Calvert Sheriff Mike Evans (R).
Evans said he did not know how Washington obtained the materials, which can be used to create weapons or pick locks, and Washington offered officers no explanation about how he got them. Evans said Washington might have picked them up from a table after meeting with his lawyers.
"You can assume all sorts of things, but who knows?" Evans said. "He's got a history of trying to do something sneaky."
Staff writers Rosalind S. Helderman and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.
Here's the link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/27/AR2008052701362.html?nav=rss_metro
By Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 28, 2008; Page A01
Former Prince George's County homeland security official Keith A. Washington was sentenced to 45 years in prison yesterday for fatally shooting one unarmed furniture deliveryman and wounding another at his Accokeek home last year.
Circuit Court Judge Michael P. Whalen said the evidence contradicted Washington's claim that he was under attack by the two larger men when he opened fire. "There wasn't one discernible injury [on Washington] to any of the medical personnel who examined him," said the judge, who imposed a term five years longer than prosecutors had sought.
Washington, who was also a county police officer at the time of the shooting, addressed the court for more than 10 minutes, apologizing to his family and friends for putting them through what he called a "spectacle." He spoke of his effort to live with "courage and integrity," and he cited historical figures, including Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. DuBois, Crispus Attucks, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.
Washington, 46, admitted no wrongdoing. At one point, he turned to Marilynn Clark, mother of slain deliveryman Brandon Clark, and said, "I did not murder your son."
"I feel your pain," he said. "No parent should ever have to bury a child. . . . I don't want you to go away thinking some monster shot your son and is indifferent to his death."
Turning to Robert White, the surviving deliveryman, Washington said, "I want you to know, Mr. White, I have no animosity towards you. I feel your pain also."
Later, as Washington was led out of the courtroom, he appeared to mouth the words "I'm okay" to his wife, Stacey Washington, and their daughter.
Stacey Washington said after the hearing: "Keith Washington is now and will forever be my hero. I saw what happened. I saw him being beaten. He is a protector and a defender."
Washington's lawyers, who had requested that he be given a five-year term, declined to comment.
State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said he thought the sentence was appropriate. He said Washington opened fire "basically because furniture was delivered late."
Clark and White were at Washington's home in Accokeek on Jan. 24, 2007, to swap one set of Marlo Furniture bed rails for another. An argument broke out between the men and Washington, who opened fire. Clark, 22, died nine days later. White, 37, was wounded.
During the trial in February, White testified that he and Clark did nothing to provoke the shooting. He said Washington, already angry that he had been waiting all day for the delivery, became enraged when Clark asked why the original set of bed rails wasn't dismantled. Washington replied, "[Expletive], you telling me what to do in my house?" White testified.
White said that he suggested he and Clark leave and that he got between Clark and Washington. He testified that Washington said, "I know how to get you the [expletive] out of my house."
Several months after the shooting, Washington left his homeland security post, and he was later granted medical disability from the police force. His disability benefits and police pension are not affected by his convictions, county spokesman John Erzen said.
The case has drawn attention in part because of past abuse allegations against Washington and because of his ties to County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D). Washington was a driver for Johnson during the 2002 campaign, and Johnson named him deputy director of homeland security two years later. The two are members of the same college fraternity, Omega Psi Phi.
After the shooting, Johnson distanced himself from Washington. "We are not friends," he said at one point. He also said that he "never promoted" Washington, despite having given him the homeland security position.
Yesterday, at a news conference, Marilynn Clark said of Washington's remarks in court, "I didn't want to hear it."
White said he accepted Washington's apology. "Justice has prevailed," White said.
During the four-hour sentencing hearing, Whalen also heard testimony about an incident in March in which correctional officers found a handcuff key in the breast pocket of Washington's orange jumpsuit shortly before he was to be transferred to the Calvert County jail.
Lt. Avery Johnson of the county corrections department testified that Washington provided two explanations for the key. In one version, Johnson said, Washington said he found it on the windowsill of his cell. In another version, Washington said the key was "planted," Johnson said. Corrections investigators have not determined how Washington got the key, Johnson said.
Also yesterday, Daniel Smart, a retired county police sergeant, testified about an incident years ago in which Washington became enraged at Smart's request that he drive an intoxicated man from a scene where officers were arresting drug dealing suspects. Washington went "from zero to 100, with nothing in between," Smart said.
The 45-year sentence is high for people convicted of the offenses of which Washington was found guilty: involuntary manslaughter, two counts of first-degree assault and two handgun violations. A jury acquitted him of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
In court, Whalen said that Washington had put his police handgun inside the waistband of his jeans in anticipation of the furniture deliverymen's arrival. Whalen said White and Clark had begun working at 6 a.m. that day and had made numerous deliveries without incident.
Finally, Whalen said, Washington's voice in court yesterday -- when he struggled to maintain his composure -- was far different from that of the "very composed man" who told a 911 operator on the night of the shootings that he had been beaten.
Yesterday, as Washington was preparing to leave the Calvert County Detention Center, officers found that he had two binder clips and a paper clip, which are not allowed under jail rules, said Calvert Sheriff Mike Evans (R).
Evans said he did not know how Washington obtained the materials, which can be used to create weapons or pick locks, and Washington offered officers no explanation about how he got them. Evans said Washington might have picked them up from a table after meeting with his lawyers.
"You can assume all sorts of things, but who knows?" Evans said. "He's got a history of trying to do something sneaky."
Staff writers Rosalind S. Helderman and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.
