Judge Herbert Dixon sentenced David Bolden to 13 years in prison Friday after Bolden pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing 33-year-old Lamont Antonio Devore last year.
In accepting the plea, Dixon was required to sentence Bolden to that term, because prosecutors and Bolden’s defense attorney, Renee Raymond, had already agreed on the sentence.
Bolden said he regretted what happened.
“I’d like to say I’m truly sorry,” Bolden said. “I overreacted to the situation, but I’m truly sorry. It didn’t have to go that far.”
The 13-year sentence is at the bottom of the sentencing guidelines for the charge, second-degree murder while armed.
Dixon had questioned Bolden extensively at a February hearing when Bolden entered the plea.
At that hearing, Bolden said he felt his life was in danger when he stabbed Devore. He said he had discussed the possibility of claiming self-defense with his attorney, but decided not to.
Prosecutors, though, have painted Bolden as the aggressor.
Devore and Bolden had argued several times about the amount of time Bolden was spending with the mother of Devore’s children.
The woman and Bolden were having drinks on a porch in the 1500 block of 45th Street Northeast the evening of May 1 when Bolden told her he was upset that Devore had told the mother of Bolden’s children that he was in a relationship with the mother of Devore’s children. He said he wanted to speak with Devore about the issue when they next saw each other, and jumped in his vehicle to drive to confront Devore, prosecutors contend.
When Devore tried to fight him, Bolden stabbed him several times and drove away.
Devore’s bother, James Devore, said he wasn’t happy with the sentence.
“I think he should deserve more time,” Devore said.
Dixon, too, seemed skeptical. He at first rejected the plea agreement. He changed his mind after Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Wheeler explained that prosecutors offered the agreement to Bolden because of issues with the government’s witnesses.
Two people saw Bolden stab Devore, Wheeler said, but one of them was charged in an unrelated case and was later indicted for perjury, although those charges were later dropped.
“Those were seen to be impediments to our case,” Wheeler said.
While Dixon accepted the agreement, he ordered Bolden to pay $1,500 in court costs – all but ensuring he will be in debt when he leaves prison. Bolden also was ordered to complete substance abuse treatment, a mental health evaluation and vocational training.
