Second Defendant in Drag Beating Gets Community Service
Second woman accused in Manny & Olga's beating pleads guilty in exchange for deferred-sentencing agreement
The second woman seen in an online video apparently attacking a local drag performer in a June 23 incident at a restaurant at 14th and T Streets NW pleaded guilty to a charge of simple assault Friday in D.C. Superior Court, in exchange for a deferred-sentencing agreement similar to the one given a week earlier to the other defendant in the case.
Raymone Harding and Rachel Manna Sahle
(Images via YouTube video source)
Raymone Harding, 28, of Gaithersburg, Md., agreed to the sentencing agreement, in which she would avoid jail time by performing community service, submitting to regular drug testing, and avoiding contact with the victim, Miles DeNiro, who performs as drag personality Heidi Glüm. Those conditions were similar to the ones issued in the deferred-sentencing agreement with 22-year-old Rachel Manna Sahle, of Gaithersburg, the previous Friday.
Typically, a deferred-sentencing agreement is offered to first-time offenders or those accused of minor crimes. Under such an agreement, a defendant must meet certain requirements or obligations requested by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and set by the court. If a defendant complies with the terms of release, they will avoid jail time, and may even see the charges against them dismissed or their sentence thrown out, a decision that is up tot the discretion of the presiding judge.
Harding is scheduled to appear before Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna on April 1, 2014 for a deferred-sentence review, at which point McKenna will determine if Harding has been compliant. Sahle will appear before McKenna for a similar decision a few weeks earlier, on March 19.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia had advised McKenna that it was considering whether to pursue bias enhancements – also known as ”hate crime charges” – against both women. But so long as both are compliant with the terms of the deferred-sentencing agreement, such charges are unlikely to be brought.
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
