Washington, D.C. – An 18-year-old District of Columbia resident, Aaron Crutchfield, was sentenced this morning before the Honorable Robert I. Richter in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a total of eight years in prison for his role in several armed robberies that he and a 16-year-old accomplice committed this past summer, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor announced today.

Crutchfield, formerly of the 1200 block of 16th Street, NE, Washington, D.C., was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 48 months in prison. The defendant and his co-defendant, 16-year-old Douglas Chambers, of the 1300 block of I Street, NE, Washington, D.C., both pled guilty to two counts of armed robbery on July 25, 2008. Chambers, who was prosecuted as an adult, will be sentenced on November 24, 2008.

Both defendants admitted during the plea proceedings that on June 4, 2008, at approximately 3:57 a.m., Chambers robbed three men at a farmer’s market located at 1302 5th Street, NE, Washington, D.C. Chambers did so by jumping out of a black Jeep, driven by Crutchfield, and holding a gun to each individual while demanding money. From two of the three victims, Chambers took a cell phone, car keys and a wallet. Chambers got back into the passenger seat of the black Jeep, which Crutchfield then drove away.

Crutchfield next drove Chambers to a Subway sandwich shop, located at 530 Morse Street, NE, Washington, D.C. They discussed stealing a vehicle either from a man or woman who were both at the sandwich shop. Chambers left the vehicle to complete the robbery while Crutchfield parked to wait for him. Instead of robbing the man, Chambers approached the woman and demanded money and the keys to her vehicle while pointing a gun at her. She complied and gave him $23.00 and the keys to her white 2004 GMC Envoy. Chambers then drove away in the Envoy and Crutchfield drove away in the black Jeep.

After the robbery and during a canvass of the area for both robbers, Chambers was spotted by the police at a gas station located at 1755 New York Avenue, NE, while leaving the white Envoy. Upon seeing the police, Chambers fled on foot. He was apprehended by the police approximately 1½ blocks away where he was stuck on a barbed wire fence. A search of the Envoy revealed a black Sigpro semi-automatic handgun. Crutchfield was also spotted by the police fleeing in the Jeep to Maryland. Shortly thereafter, he returned to the District in the black Jeep, which was spotted in the 1500 block of Raum Street, NE. Crutchfield was positively identified and arrested.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Taylor praised the quick action and team work of the Metropolitan Police Department, including Detectives Carter Adams, Jonathan Clingerman, and Anthony Commodore; and, Officers Fabian Ferrera, Anthony Campanale, Thomas Fontz, India Hemsley, Eric King, Bernie Lyons, Kathryn Skaluba, Darrell Young, and, Salome Wilson. Finally, Mr. Taylor commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Shana Fulton, who is prosecuting the matter.