Judge sentences homicide defendant to 135 months in prison

By Adriana Marroquin
– June 21, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Washington Superior Court Judge Robert Okun sentenced a homicide defendant to 135 months of incarceration, as agreed to in a plea agreement, on June 21.

Anthony Lewis, 25, was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Cameron Clemons. The incident occurred in the 600 block of Otis Place, NW on May 18, 2022.

Clemons died of fungal pneumonia on June 4, 2022, from a gunshot wound.

On Jan. 18, Lewis accepted a deal that required him to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.

During the hearing, prosecutors and Lewis' defense attorney, Julie Swaney, asked Judge Okun to accept the deal they reached, saying 11 years and three months of incarceration was enough for Lewis based on his criminal history and the nature and circumstances of the event.

The prosecution read a short statement from Clemons' mother, in which she told the court, “I look forward to death because of this nightmare,” saying the loss of her son had been too much to handle .

Likewise, Clemons' grandmother said that Lewis “would never understand what it's like to give birth to your baby and watch it die.” She said Lewis was unaware of the “devastation and destruction” he had brought upon their family and community.

According to the prosecution, Clemons was a bystander during a shooting that took place between Lewis and a group of individuals at the scene, and was simply “caught in the crossfire.”

The prosecution told Judge Okun that of the 40 shots fired during the incident, 10 were fired by Lewis. However, she praised him for taking responsibility and admitting to overreacting to the situation.

“His fear did not justify his actions,” the prosecutor said, saying Lewis, who was on probation for a prior gun conviction at the time of the incident, thought he was in danger while conversing with a group of individuals.

“He didn't learn his lesson,” the prosecutor said, insisting that even though he got rid of the murder weapon, there was a gun in his grandmother's house. -mother at the time of her arrest.

They requested that he not be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which seals the conviction of a young defendant when and if he successfully completes all requirements for determining the penalty.

However, Swaney asked Judge Okun to grant the sentence under the YRA, stating that he had no felony convictions and “really wanted to take responsibility” for his actions.

According to Swaney, the conversation with the group stemmed from a previous negative interaction between an individual in the group and Lewis' sister. “He acted to try to protect his sister,” Swaney said.

“It’s still developing,” Swaney said of the YRA, adding that everyone who knows Lewis “sees[s] a lot of potential in him.

She argued that it would be beneficial to Lewis and the community if he were sentenced under the YRA to ensure he had better employment and life chances. “YRA [sentence] it’s not something you just get, you deserve it,” Swaney asserted, arguing that Lewis had put in effort and work to deserve punishment under this sentence.

“I take full responsibility for my actions,” Lewis told Judge Okun, adding “what happened to [Clemons] it's really a shame. »

“An innocent person lost his life,” Judge Okun insisted, adding that Clemons was a mere bystander in the incident. However, he said, he agreed that “an average sentence is appropriate” and he would approve the sentence proposed by the parties.

Lewis was sentenced to 135 months of incarceration and ordered to register as an armed offender and participate in anger management, mental health and substance abuse evaluations and treatment.

“This is a very serious offense,” Judge Okun said, adding “but I see real potential in you… I hope you can make a difference.”

No other date has been set.

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