Stephan Manuel Pool | Homicide Watch DC

Judge Sentences Leon Smith to 24 Years for Stephan Pool Stabbing

Megan Arellano — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 13:35:14 -0400

Before Leon Smith was sentenced in the fatal stabbing of Stephan Pool, Pool's youngest sister Julissa Valdez addressed him.

"My brother served you to protect you," Valdez said, referencing his military service. "How could you get anything other than life in prison?"

In May, Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in connection with the stabbing death of 45-year-old Pool. On Friday, Judge John Ramsey Johnson sentenced him to 20 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge and four years for the obstruction of justice charge, a total of 24 years.

According to prosecutors' memorandum in aid of sentencing, Smith stabbed Pool in the heart with his pocket knife after he watched his girlfriend give Pool a hug and a "friendly peck on the cheek." Earlier that day, there were signs that Smith was "having trouble controlling himself and his possessiveness over his girlfriend," according to the document.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Kravis called the act a "really brutal crime," in which Pool was stabbed "while buckled in the seat of a car."

Additionally, Smith later tried to interfere with the testimony of his girlfriend, which showed a lack of remorse, Kravis said.

At sentencing, Smith told the Pool family, "I'm very very sorry, from the bottom of my heart," adding, "I understand if you don't forgive me."

Smith's defense attorney Madeline Harvey emphasized that Smith lived "a horrible horrible life" and "making him suffer more is not going to bring [the Pool family's] loved one back."

Harvey expressed regret that she was not able negotiate a different plea where she "could've asked for as little as 13 years" for a man who still has "sweetness" and "vulnerability" despite the adversity he has faced. Under the terms of the agreement, prosecutors and defense attorney agreed Smith would be sentenced to 24 to 25 years in prison.

Friends and family remembered Pool in 18 pages of statements to the court, some handwritten and some typed:

"My uncle was the strongest person I knew," wrote Pool's niece. "And we really did have a special bond. Every year, I would send him a wallet sized picture of myself to him from school picture day. And whenever I would visit, I was the only person on the wall. Just me."

Another friend, Ken Ifill, told the story of the time that Pool walked to his house in New York City during a blizzard, just to play video games. Pool would later guide him to become a network engineer, Ifill wrote.

After delivering his sentence, Judge Johnson encouraged Smith to "make the best of his situation," including taking medications if directed.

"When someone dies as a result of what you did, that's a long time to be in prison," Judge Johnson told Smith.

Leon Smith Pleads Guilty to Stabbing Death of Stephan Pool

Kristian Hernandez — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:10:57 -0400

Leon Allen Smith pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in connection to the stabbing death of 45-year-old Stephan Manuel Pool.

Smith, 29, admitted to stabbing Pool once in the heart using his pocket knife because he became enraged after seeing his girlfriend give Pool a hug and a "peck on the cheek," according to prosecutors.

"You want my girlfriend," said Smith, before stabbing Pool once in the heart, said prosecutors.

Pool was dropping off Smith's girlfriend at Pools residence in the 200 block of N Street Southwest, according to charging documents.

On Sept. 2, 2012, police found Pool sitting in the drivers seat of his blue SUV, unconscious but still breathing. He was suffering from a stab wound to his left chest, and was transported to George Washington Hospital where he died from his injuries according to court documents.

Smith ran from the scene but was detained by a nearby cop who responded to the call and saw Smith toss a blue pocket knife to the ground, said prosecutors.

Smith is also charged with obstruction of justice for trying to convince his girlfriend to give false statements to police in order to help his case.

During Friday's hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda Williams, read the factual proffer which referenced several jail calls between Smith and his girlfriend. In the recorded calls Smith asks her to say it was an accident, that she was intoxicated at the time of the incident, and that she was coerced by police to give her statements, said Williams.

As part of the plea agreement prosecutors said they will not charge Smith with the other nine charges of obstruction of justice and for carrying a dangerous weapon which he was indicted on in March.

Smith is facing 24 to 25 years in prison and will be sentenced on July 25, at 11 a.m. by Judge John Ramsey Johnson.

Plea documents have been added below.

Leon Smith Plea Docs (PDF)Leon Smith Plea Docs (Text)

Leon Allen Smith Pleads Innocent in Death of Stephan Manuel Pool

Megan Arellano — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 13:05:12 -0400

Leon Allen Smith pleaded innocent Friday to 12 criminal charges, including first-degree murder, in connection with the death of 45-year-old Stephan Manuel Pool.

He is also charged with 10 counts of obstruction of justice in connection with alleged attempts to intimidate a witness.

Smith was undergoing mental health treatments, but was found competent for trial after a final report delivered in July 2013 found that Smith to be "malingering," defined as exaggerating or fabricating symptoms.

Pool was found stabbed in the 200 block of N Street Southwest on Sept. 2, 2012; he was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. More than a month later, Smith was arrested.

Prosecutors believe Smith stabbed Pool in the chest after Pool drove Smith's girlfriend to see Smith. As the woman exited the vehicle, she hugged Pool, documents say.

Then, Smith punched him one time in the chest. The woman said that after the punch she saw Smith holding a silver knife with a blue handle.

Charging documents say that witnesses told police they saw Smith approach Pool and Smith appeared to punch Pool. Witnesses heard Pool then yell, “He stabbed me."

According to police, Smith told them that he punched Pool, but did not believe that he stabbed him. He later told police that the knife found at the scene was, in fact, his knife.

Smith is scheduled for a mental observation hearing on May 9.

A copy of the indictment is below.

Smith, Leon Indictment (PDF)Smith, Leon Indictment (Text)

Leon Allen Smith Competent to Stand Trial for Death of Stephan Pool, Evaluators Say

Penny Ray — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 10:42:13 -0400

Mental health experts have found Leon Allen Smith competent to stand trial for the stabbing death of Stephan Manuel Pool, despite Smith's insistence that he suffers hallucinations, nightmares and paranoia.

According to a recent mental health report, Smith remains largely evasive, dismissive and uncooperative with all clinical assessments. His treatment team, though, has not observed any behaviors consistent with Smith's reported symptoms. Evaluators believe Smith is feigning incompetence to avoid prosecution.

At a hearing Friday, Madalyn Harvey, Smith's defense attorney, said she may contest the finding of competence.

Smith, 29, was arrested Sept. 2, 2012, on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of Pool. Smith's preliminary hearing has been postponed pending a mental health determination.

Prosecutors believe Smith stabbed Pool in the chest after Pool and Smith's girlfriend hugged. Charging documents in the case say Pool had driven the woman to see Smith in the 200 block of N Street Southwest. The woman told police that after she hugged Pool, Smith punched him one time in the chest. The woman said that after the punch she saw Smith holding a silver knife with a blue handle.

On May 20, 2013, Smith was admitted to Saint Elizabeth's hospital for a competency screening. He told evaluators he hears “whispers and voices laughing and talking.”

After a mental health examination in June, doctors expressed concerns that Smith may be intentionally trying to avoid criminal proceedings, and further evaluation was ordered.

In the latest report filed July 31, evaluators conclude that Smith is “malingering incompetence to stand trial.”

That report, written and reviewed by several of Smith's evaluators, states:

Consistent with his presentation during previous attempts to evaluate his competency, Mr. Smith was minimally participative in the process. This level of disengagement has also been noted by his treatment team as well as the instructors of his competency groups. Initially when we approached him for the present evaluation, Mr. Smith attempted to dictate who could be in the room for his assessment, and once the evaluation commenced, Mr. Smith frequently attempted to derail all testing and questioning. This behavior appeared to be volitional and not in any way due to tangentiality related to a major mental illness.

The report goes on to say:

Additional behavioral observations throughout the course of the present evaluation were notable. When asked what his charge was, Mr. Smith stated "Second Degree Assault." Education was provided regarding his actual charge of Murder in the Second Degree, and Mr. Smith became upset and stated, "Sounds like you're interrogating me. I'm accused of something I didn't do. You're asking too many questions, this is stupid." When reviewing competency terminologies such as the meaning of a trial, roles of major court personnel, available pleas, among other concepts, Mr. Smith claimed he did not know even the basic definition of pleas of Guilty or Not Guilty. When specifically asked what a trial meant, Mr. Smith stated that a trial is "Something that people go through in life. I've never been through a trial, so I really don't know. I've only been through the neglect system." This statement was contrary to Mr. Smith's record, which indicated that he has served five years for a previous charge and was previously detained for violation of probation.

The report also says that throughout the course of Smith's evaluation he was required to participate in cognitive testing. The results of one of the tests suggested that Smith “endorsed an unexpectedly high proportion of symptoms associated with a major mental disorder, which has been inconsistent with his presentation on the unit, and thus indicating the possibility of malingering.”

Evaluators further noted that Smith's daily behavior is rational, coherent, organized and goal directed; and the report concludes:

All factors considered, it is opined that Mr. Smith is malingering incompetence to stand trial, though this does not imply the complete absence of psychiatric symptoms. He does present with some psychiatric symptoms (irritability, anger, anxiety) but these do not appear to significantly affect his capacity to proceed with trial. It is further opined that he understands the nature and gravity of the proceedings against him, is capable of learning information requisite for participating in his defense, working with his counsel in a rational manner to assist in his defense, and is able to maintain appropriate courtroom decorum. His lack of motivation, less than optimal cooperation with various evaluation attempts, and agitated and quarrelsome demeanor are believed to be a willful and intentional attempt to feign incompetence. Thus, it is opined that Mr. Smith has a factual as well as rational understanding of the proceedings against him and has sufficient present ability to assist his attorney in the preparation of his defense.

A mental observation hearing has been scheduled for September 6.

The complete report is below.

Leon Smith July 31 2013 Mental Health Report (PDF)Leon Smith July 31 2013 Mental Health Report (Text)

Mental Health Evaluators: Further Study Needed to Determine if Leon Allen Smith is Avoiding Legal Prosecution

Penny Ray — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 09:02:15 -0400

According to mental health evaluators, Leon Allen Smith is uncooperative, antagonistic, defensive and argumentative. But his behaviors are organized and goal oriented. He interacts with select peers, communicates his needs, plays video games and carries out daily living normally.

Based on these factors, evaluators believe Smith may be intentionally trying to avoid criminal proceedings. Further mental health observation has been ordered to determine whether this is the case, or if Smith is in fact mentally ill as he claims.

Smith, 29, has been held on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of 45-year-old Stephan Manuel Pool. Smith's preliminary hearing has been postponed pending a determination on his mental health examination.

According to Pool's family members, on September 2, 2012, Pool and his girlfriend were driving a friend to see Smith. When they arrived at the apartment in the 200 block of N Street Southwest, Smith stabbed Pool in the chest.

Charging documents in the case say that Pool hugged a witness outside of his vehicle after he dropped her off in the 200 block of N Street SW that Sunday; then Smith walked up to Pool and said, “Oh, you trying to talk to my girlfriend, huh?”

The witness told police that Smith punched Pool one time in the chest with a closed fist. After the punch, the witness saw Smith holding a silver knife with a blue handle. Police found the knife in a location pointed out by the witness, who said she heard Smith drop it while walking away. Smith was arrested that same day.

In May, Smith was ordered to undergo a competency screening and he told evaluators that he hears “whispers and voices laughing and talking.” A mental health examination was ordered as a result.

The mental health examination report written June 19 by Pius Ojevwe, a Clinical Psychologist, states:

It is important to note that during the course of his present hospitalization, Mr. Smith has been largely uncooperative with nearly all aspects of his treatment with the exception of his psychotropic medications. According to Mr. Smith's treatment team, including his treating psychiatrist, clinical administrator, social worker, and registered nurse, coupled with a review of available medical records, since his current admission Mr. Smith has been largely evasive, mistrustful, dismissive, and uncooperative with clinical assessments. He sometimes complains of bizarre experiences such as auditory hallucinations, "paranoia," and intrusive nightmares, which he attributes to his early childhood disruptions/trauma. However, the treatment team staff has not observed any significant behavioral indications consistent with his reported symptoms.

The report goes on to say Smith's,

maladaptive behaviors are believed by his treatment team to be willful, intentional, and characterologically based, rather than symptoms of an Axis I syndrome, such as a psychotic or major mood disorder.

The report concludes:

Based on available data, Mr. Smith's lack of cooperation with the present evaluation and less than optimal compliance with other attempts to evaluate him appear to be intentional and this may be a willful attempt to avoid legal prosecution. Although he has been compliant with his prescribed psychotropic medications, he has continually reported no positive benefits and has refused to consider any adjustment to his treatment regimen.

Ojevwe said in the report that because of Smith's lack of cooperation it was not possible to assess his understanding of criminal proceedings and an opinion regarding his competency to stand trial could not be made.

At the hearing Thursday, Madalyn Harvey, Smith's defense attorney, asked Judge John Ramsey Johnson for another 30 days to complete the examination. A hearing to discuss the findings of that report is scheduled for August 2.

The full report is below.

Leon Smith Mental Health Evaluation Report (PDF)Leon Smith Mental Health Evaluation Report (Text)

Additional Mental Health Observations Ordered for Leon Smith

Megan Arellano — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:16:42 -0400

The 28-year-old man accused in the stabbing death of Stephan Manuel Pool will undergo further mental health treatment and tests before proceeding to trial.

At a hearing Monday, Judge John Johnson ruled that Leon Allen Smith could not be found mentally competent to stand trial at this time and needed further treatment.

Smith faces second-degree murder charges for Pool's death in September 2012. According to police, Smith admitted to punching Pool in his car, but he didn't believe he stabbed Pool. Later, Smith claimed ownership of the knife recovered at the scene.

The court-ordered screening to determine Smith's mental competency was inconclusive. According to a report on his competency, examiners said Smith said he heard, "whispers and voices laughing and talking."

"It has been going on since childhood, but I was ashamed to tell somebody," Smith said, according to the report.

Smith also said he was admitted to the public mental health system, but no records indicate any such treatment. At times, he appeared unaware of the nature of the charges against him, the report stated.

A hearing is scheduled for June 20 at 2 p.m. to determine whether Smith's mental health status has changed.

Leon Allen Smith Arrested in Stabbing Death of Stephan Manuel Pool

Jonah Newman — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:04:45 -0400

Police have arrested Leon Allen Smith, 27, of Northeast DC, in connection with the stabbing death of Stephan Manuel Pool.

Pool, 45, of Upper Marlboro, Md., was found stabbed in the early morning hours of Sept. 2 in the 200 block of N Street Southwest. He was transferred to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to court documents, witnesses told police they saw Smith approach Pool, who was in the driver's seat of a car that was parked outside 203 N Street, S.W. Smith appeared to punch Pool, who then yelled, "He stabbed me," witnesses said. According to police, Smith told them that he punched Pool, but did not believe that he stabbed him. He later told police that the knife found at the scene was, in fact, his knife.

Smith is expected in court next on Nov. 16 at 9:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing before Judge William M. Jackson.

The press release from MPD follows the jump.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Arrest Made in Homicide in the 200 Block of N Street, SW

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the homicide which occurred in the 200 block of N Street, SW.

On Sunday, September 2, 2012, at approximately 12:08 am, members of the First District responded to the 200 block of N Street, SW for the report of a possible aggravated assault /stabbing. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from a stab wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived on the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 45-year-old Stephan Manuel Pool of Upper Marlboro, MD.

On Sunday, September 2, 2012, 27-year-old Leon Allen Smith of Northeast, Washington, DC was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder by members of the Homicide Branch in connection with the homicide of Stephan Manuel Pool.