An 18-year-old teenager from Washington, D.C., has received a sentence of less than four months in prison for a carjacking offense, a decision that has sparked controversy given the federal prosecutors’ request for a seven-year sentence. Mark Edwards, 18, pleaded guilty to the charge following a May 28 incident where he and a 14-year-old accomplice stole a double-parked vehicle by implying they were armed. The case took a dramatic turn when the two were apprehended in Maryland after a police chase. The sentencing, carried out by Judge Judith Pipe, was based on the Youth Rehabilitation Act, which allows for leniency in sentencing for juveniles, despite the government’s objection.
Federal prosecutors had sought a seven-year prison term and three years of supervised release, arguing that the sentence was necessary to ensure public safety and to hold the offender accountable for the crime. However, Judge Pipe, appointed by former President Joe Biden, chose to impose a suspended sentence under the Youth Rehabilitation Act, a law that permits judges to consider the rehabilitation of minors over punitive measures. The decision was criticized by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, who expressed disappointment over the court’s ruling, arguing that it undermined public safety and failed to address the severity of the crime. Pirro has previously called for the federal government to take control of the justice system in Washington, D.C., citing concerns about the effectiveness of the local system.
Edwards was in custody since August 6 and served roughly 108 days before the sentence was handed down. He will not have to serve the suspended portion of the sentence if he completes the one year of supervised probation. Edwards had also been charged with an attempted carjacking earlier this month, where he and another suspect approached a double-parked car, demanded the driver’s keys, and stole his cellphone. The driver managed to escape the scene, according to the Justice Department. The case highlights the broader issue of juvenile crime in the nation’s capital, which has seen a decrease in the number of carjackings despite the continued concern for public safety. With 238 carjackings reported this year, a 49% decline from the same period in 2024, the city’s authorities are working to address the root causes of these crimes, particularly among younger offenders, who comprise over half of the arrests made in such cases.