Desmond Fletcher, a 37-year-old resident of Capitol Heights, Maryland, has been convicted by a jury on charges stemming from an incident that occurred in southeast Washington, D.C. He was found guilty of one count of felony strangulation and two counts of misdemeanor assault. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The verdict came on March 24, 2025, after a trial held in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Sentencing is scheduled for June 13, 2025, before Judge Judith Pipe.
According to evidence presented by the prosecution, Fletcher attacked a woman he had been romantically involved with on September 4, 2023. The attack took place at the victim's home where Fletcher confronted her and proceeded to strangle and assault her as she moved through different rooms. The violence resulted in the victim losing consciousness and suffering other physical effects. Her minor daughter was present during the incident. Afterward, the victim sought help from a neighbor who contacted emergency services.
Strangulation is identified as one of the most dangerous forms of intimate partner violence. A notable study conducted in San Diego highlights its severe consequences: “Many victims suffer internal injuries, including permanent brain damage... Most abusers do not strangle to kill. They strangle to show they can kill.” It also reported that victims are significantly more likely to face future lethal violence if previously strangled by their partner.
U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith expressed their appreciation for the investigative work carried out by the Metropolitan Police Department and acknowledged contributions from personnel within the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Special recognition was given to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trisha Jhunjhnuwala and Sarah Roessler from the Domestic Violence Felony Unit for their roles in investigating and prosecuting this case.