A chilling case of broad daylight kidnapping has come to an end with a Maryland man being sentenced to five years in prison. Christopher Devese, 23, of Capitol Heights, Md., was sentenced on October 11, 2013, to five years in prison for abducting his pregnant girlfriend from a gas station, robbing her and then assaulting her.
The shocking incident occurred on April 27, 2013, at around 12:30 p.m., when Devese chased his girlfriend in a car from Capitol Heights, Md., into the District of Columbia, as she sped through red lights trying to get away from him. The victim, who had called 911 for help while being pursued by Devese, was finally cornered in a gas station parking lot in the 4900 block of South Dakota Avenue NE.
Devese smashed the car window to get into the car and pulled his girlfriend out. He then put her into his car and drove her to an unknown alley in the District of Columbia, where he repeatedly assaulted her, including beating her in the stomach with his casted fist. During the assault, he also robbed the victim of her cell phone, which police recovered from him when he was arrested.
Devese then drove the victim back to Capitol Heights, Md., where he assaulted her again before his mother came to the victim’s aid.
Christopher Devese, 23, of Capitol Heights, Md., pled guilty in July 2013, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to charges of kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery, and felony contempt. The plea was contingent upon the approval of the Honorable John Ramsey Johnson, who accepted it and sentenced Devese.
Upon completion of his prison term, Devese will be placed on three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit and the FBI/MPD Violent Crimes Task Force. He also praised those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Lezlie Richardson, Paralegal Specialist D’Yvonne Key, and Intern Lucie Enns. Finally, he commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Mervin A. Bourne, Jr., who investigated and indicted the case.
The case highlights the disturbing trend of domestic violence and assault in our community. It is a stark reminder of the importance of taking action against perpetrators of such heinous crimes. We hope that this sentence brings some measure of justice to the victim and her family.
The charges against Christopher Devese include:
- Kidnapping
- Assault with a dangerous weapon
- Robbery
- Felony contempt
The sentencing took place on October 11, 2013, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The case number is 13-349.
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- Christopher Michael Collins, High-Stakes Scheme, Maryland 2024 · District of Columbia
- Christopher Michael Alberts, Assaulting Law Enforcement, Maryland 2021 · District of Columbia
- Jamal Gilmore, Kidnapping and Assault, Maryland 2021 · District of Columbia
- Scott Miller, Assaulting Officers with a Dangerous Weapon, Maryland 2024 · District of Columbia
- Thomas Joseph Kelly Jr, Assault with a Weapon, Maryland 2021 · District of Columbia
Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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