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Press Release

District Man Pleads Guilty To Charges In 2011 Collision With Bicyclist In Northeast Washington -Victim Knocked To Street, Escaped Serious Injury-

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia

     WASHINGTON - John W. Diehl, 57, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to charges stemming from a hit-and-run incident in August 2011 in which the truck he was driving struck a bicyclist in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

     Diehl pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to charges of leaving the scene after a collision and destruction of property. The plea includes a deferred sentencing agreement that calls for Diehl to perform 25 hours of community service, undergo counseling for anger management, complete a drivers’ safety course, and complete alcohol and drug treatment if necessary over the next year.  If he complies with all of the conditions of the agreement, the government will not oppose a defense motion to withdraw the guilty plea and will move to dismiss the case. The Honorable Robert I. Richter scheduled sentencing for April 2, 2014. 

     If the defendant does not comply with the conditions, the government can oppose his withdrawal of the plea and ask the Court to immediately proceed with sentencing.

     According to the government’s evidence, on Aug. 31, 2011, at about 9:05 a.m., the victim was riding his bicycle and  traveling west in the 3000 block of Rhode Island Avenue NE. Diehl pulled up in his truck next to the victim, drove alongside him as he was riding, and cursed at him for being in the middle lane.

     Diehl then changed lanes and drove his truck into the bicyclist’s lane, striking him with his truck and knocking him to the ground. After knocking the victim off of his bicycle, Diehl drove away without stopping. As a result of the collision, the victim suffered injury to his shoulder, road rash and multiple scrapes and bruises, as well as damage to his bicycle.

     In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the officers of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Fifth District, who were involved in the arrest and investigation of this case.  U.S. Attorney Machen also expressed his appreciation to Paralegal Specialists D’Yvonne Key and Richard Cheatham, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mervin A. Bourne, Jr., who investigated and prosecuted the case.

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Updated February 19, 2015