WASHINGTON – Jerome C. Lewis, 51, of Washington, DC, was sentenced today to 32 years in prison for the tragic and deliberate act of setting a house fire that led to the death of four-year-old Samauri Michelle Jenkins.
The government’s evidence revealed that on Feb. 17, 2013, Lewis set fire to his mattress in a basement living area, causing a blaze that ultimately took the life of young Samauri. Despite efforts by the District of Columbia Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (DCFEMS) to save her life, she succumbed to injuries two days later.
Following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Lewis was found guilty on Oct. 25, 2017, of first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances, second-degree murder, and first-degree cruelty to children. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Milton C. Lee.
During the sentencing hearing, the government sought restitution for Samauri Jenkins’ estate or the imposition of a fine based on insurance proceeds from Lewis’s damaged property. Judge Lee will revisit this request at a follow-up hearing scheduled for June 15, 2018, and has already frozen Lewis’s assets in preparation.
Lewis had been renting out part of his home to relatives but was facing financial troubles when the incident occurred. His relationship with these tenants had soured, leading to the tragic event.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Peter Newsham, Special Agent in Charge Thomas L. Chittum III of the ATF Washington Field Division, and DCFEMS Chief Gregory M. Dean. They commended the efforts of the D.C. Arson Task Force, which includes members from MPD, ATF, and DCFEMS, as well as those involved in the prosecution from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberley C. Nielsen and Michelle D. Jackson were also recognized for their roles in investigating and prosecuting this case.
Lewis was arrested on the morning of the fire and has remained in custody ever since.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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