Phillip Crooms | Homicide Watch DC

Joseph Spinks Sentenced to 16 Years for Murder

Jonah Newman — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:55:54 -0400

Joseph Spinks was sentenced last month to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder and obstruction of justice in the killing of 29-year-old Delonte Butler.

According to court records, around 3:00 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2010, Spinks shot Butler in the face with a rifle while Butler was sitting inside a vehicle in the 3700 block of First Street Southeast, and the car drifted off the road and collided with a tree. Spinks then met up with his co-defendent, Phillip Crooms, and asked him if he wanted to "see a dead body."

According to a proffer of facts signed by Crooms, he and Spinks walked to the car and stole Butler's wallet and some jeans. They then went to Spinks' girlfriend's apartment, where they decided they should return to the car to light it on fire in order to destroy the evidence of their crime. Spinks found a bottle of rubbing alcohol and gave it to Crooms, who went back to the car with the intention of lighting it on fire. But he returned a short time after and told Spinks that he wouldn't torch the vehicle and that Spinks should do it. Crooms watched as Spinks then walked to the vehicle, poured the rubbing alcohol on it, and set it on fire.

At a preliminary hearing, a medical examiner testified that either the shooting or the fire could have independently killed Butler.

Crooms pled guilty in March to robbery, obstruction of justice, and malicious burning. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Spinks was also sentenced to 5 years for obstruction of justice, but that time will be served concurrently with his other sentence. His 16-year sentence for murder includes time already served in D.C. jail.

Note: Due to staffing, Homicide Watch DC did not publish between mid-August and mid-October. This is among the cases we are going back to cover and we apologize for the delay in publishing.

10 Year Sentence for "Malicious Burning" Plea in Murder Case

Laura Amico — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:59:52 -0400

Phillip Crooms was sentenced Wednesday to ten years in prison for his role in a robbery that left 29-year-old Delonte Butler dead.

According to court records, prosecutors believe that Butler was shot by a rifle while inside of a vehicle by Croom’s co-defendant, Joseph Spinks. Immediately following the shooting, the car collided with a tree. Charging documents alleged that Crooms handed Spinks a bottle of rubbing alcohol in order to light the car on fire and destroy evidence of the shooting.

At a preliminary hearing a medical examiner testified that either the shooting or the fire could have independently killed Butler.

Crooms was arrested in May 2011 on suspicion of first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty in March 2012 to robbery, obstruction of justice, and destruction of property- malicious burning.

The sentence handed down by Judge Ronna Beck was comprised of a five year sentence on the robbery charge, a five year sentence of the obstruction charge, and a 180 day sentence on the charge of destruction of property. The last sentence will be counted concurrent to the other charges, totaling ten years in prison.

Spinks is due in court June 29 for a status hearing.

Plea documents are below.

"Malicious Burning" Plea in Delonte Butler Murder

Laura Amico — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:44:00 -0400

Phillip Crooms today pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, robbery and "malicious burning" in connection to the death of Delonte Butler in Sept. 2010.

According a proffer of evidence read in court Friday, prosecutors believe that Butler was shot by a rifle while inside of a vehicle by Croom's co-defendant, Joseph Spinks. Immediately following the shooting, the car collided with a tree. Crooms, who was charged with felony murder, was not suspected of taking part in the shooting. Charging documents alleged that Crooms handed Spinks a bottle of rubbing alcohol in order to light the car on fire and destroy evidence of the shooting.

At a preliminary hearing a medical examiner testified that either the shooting or the fire could have independently killed Butler.

Prosecutors have agreed to not pursue the felony murder charge in exchange for the obstruction, robbery, and malicious burning guilty pleas.

At the hearing Friday Prosecutor Chris Kavanaugh said that after shooting Butler, Spinks asked Crooms if he'd like to see a dead body. Crooms agreed and together they went to where Butler's car had crashed. Once there, they stole Butler's wallet and took his jeans. Later they decided that the vehicle should be burned so that their fingerprints wouldn't be found. Crooms initially intended to light the fire using a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a t-shirt, but Spinks ultimately light the fire, Kavanauagh said.

When asked by Judge Ronna Beck if all this information was correct, Crooms said it was.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Crooms has agreed to a sentence of 10 years in prison. Beck could sentence him to more or less time after reviewing a pre-sentence report. Sentencing is scheduled for May 25 at 11 a.m.

Medical Examiner Says Shooting and Fire Both Contributed to Delonte Butler's Death

Laura Amico — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:21:14 -0400

Phillip Crooms was ordered held today after Judge Lynn Leibovitz found probable cause to believe that Crooms was involved in lighting a fire that contributed to the death of Delonte Butler in Sept. 2010.

A preliminary hearing was begun in early August, but only concluded today with testimony from Dr. Lois Goslinoski, a DC medical examiner.

According to charging documents, prosecutors believe that Butler was shot inside of a vehicle by a man with a shotgun. Immediately following the shooting, the car collided with a tree. Crooms, suspected of felony murder, is not suspected of taking part in the shooting, but instead of handing suspect Joseph Spinks a bottle of rubbing alcohol in order to light the car on fire and destroy evidence of the shooting, charging documents allege.

In the earlier hearing, Judge Leibovitz asked prosecutors to clarify whether Butler was killed by the shooting or the fire.

On Monday, Dr. Goslinoski said it was impossible to separate the two types of injuries. Either injury, independent of the either, could have been deadly, she said.

With that information, Leibovitz found probable cause in the case against Crooms and ordered him held. A status hearing is set for Dec. 9.

Prosecutors Given Time to Clarify Case Against Phillip Crooms

Laura Amico — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:13:30 -0400

At a preliminary hearing today Judge Lynn Leibovitz sent government prosecutors back to the drawing board, instructing them to find clarification on the cause of death of 29-year-old Delonte Butler.

Butler's body was found by District officers on Sept. 25, 2010 next to a car that was on fire.

Joseph Spinks was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with the case that same month. His case remains open and is pending indictment.

Phillip Crooms was arrested in May and was before Judge Leibovitz Friday when she instructed prosecutors to clarify Butler's cause of death.

According to charging documents, prosecutors believe that Butler was shot inside of a vehicle by a man with a shotgun. Immediately following the shooting, the car collided with a tree. Crooms, suspected of felony murder, is not suspected of taking part in the shooting, but instead of handing Spinks a bottle of rubbing alcohol in order to light the car on fire and destroy evidence of the shooting, charging documents allege.

The medical examiner's report, as relayed in the charging documents which were adopted in court as testimony, say that Butler died of a gunshot wound to the head but that

the inhalation of products of combustion contributed to the cause of death as well... [and] that the decedent was alive and breathing at the time he was set on fire.

Following the presentation of evidence in the case, Leibovitz said she was struggling with what the "substantial factor" of death was, the gunshot wound or the fire.

"I'm not sure that I have enough quantifiable information," she said. "It's one little piece, but if the government decides it can never prove a substantial factor in this case then that's the way it is."

Leibovitz continued the case to Aug. 25 to give prosecutors time to clarify. Spinks is due back in court for a status hearing on Oct. 7.

Charging documents in the case are here.

Phillip Crooms Held on First Degree Murder Charge

Karen Frantz — Sat, 21 May 2011 01:22:59 -0400

Phillip Crooms appeared in court Friday to hear charges against him. He was arrested yesterday on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Delonte Butler in September 2010.

He was ordered held without bond in the case and is next due in court June 13.

Charging documents in the case after the jump.

Phillip Crooms Arrested in Delonte Butler Death

Karen Frantz — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:40:30 -0400

Phillip Crooms was arrested today on first-degree murder charges in connection with the homicide of Delonte Butler in September 2010, according to MPD.

Butler, 29, was found by District officers on Sept. 25 in a car that was on fire. He was pronounced dead at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, whose subsequent investigation found that Butler was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

Crooms, 28, of Southeast is the second person to be arrested on first-degree murder charges in connection with Butler's death. The first was Joseph Spinks, who was arrested in September.

MPD's press release is after the jump.

May 19, 2011

Second Arrest Made in the Homicide of Delonte Butler

( Washington, DC)-Detectives assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced today a second arrest has been made in the homicide of 29-year-old Delonte Butler.

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, at approximately 4:45 am, Seventh District officers were alerted to an automobile crash in the 3700 block of 1st Street, SE. Officers responded to the scene and found a single vehicle accident, and the vehicle was on fire.

DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and located a male victim; however, the victim showed no signs consistent with life and was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where he was pronounced dead. The subsequent investigation revealed that the victim was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

On Thursday, May 19, 2011, at approximately 11:00 am, 28 year old Phillip Crooms of Southeast, DC, was arrested and charged with First Degree Felony Murder by members of the Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force.