A District man with a history of sticky fingers has been slapped with a 12-month-plus-one-day sentence for swiping packages off Northwest Washington stoops. Dayvon Baker, 34, will also be under the hawk-eye of supervised release for three years following his behind-bars stint, a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Baker tried, but couldn't dodge the long arm of the law after pleading guilty to one count of felony second-degree theft back on February 9. Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz handed down the sentence to Baker, aiming to ensure he'd critically think twice before trying to abscond with another person's mail.
Caught in the act on November 17, 2023, Baker's one-man theft spree came to a screeching halt. "The defendant went up to residences in Northwest Washington, D.C. and stole packages that been delivered to residents' front doors," according to the announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office. His criminal dance card, already filled with previous theft convictions, spun him directly into a mandatory minimum one-year prison jig thanks to D.C.'s tougher stance on repeat offenders.
Tip of the cap, though, to the Metropolitan Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaskin, who tightly worked together to bring Baker to justice. U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith used their public platform to commend the diligent efforts by these law enforcers, ensuring this package pilferer would be securely delivered to a cell. Their coordinated work showcases the system's intent to not just swiftly act but to also effectively prevent future thefts, a move likely to bring some peace of mind to D.C.'s doorstep.
