Following a legal battle, justice has been served in the case of Karon Hylton-Brown, the 20-year-old who died after an unauthorized police pursuit in October 2020. Officer Terence D. Sutton Jr. has been sentenced to 66 months in prison, according to an announcement made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. Lieutenant Andrew Zabavsky, also involved in the incident, received a sentence of 48 months in prison. Sutton faced conviction for second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct, and obstruction of justice, while Zabavsky was found guilty of the latter two charges.
The federal jury, as highlighted by the U.S. Department of Justice, handed down their verdict on December 21, 2022, showcasing an abuse of power that ultimately led to Hylton-Brown's death. Driving a moped on a sidewalk without a helmet, Hylton-Brown fled when Sutton attempted to stop him. In response, Sutton and Zabavsky engaged in a pursuit that spanned over 10 blocks, violating multiple traffic laws and disregarding the potential harm to Hylton-Brown. Following the chase, Hylton-Brown was struck by an uninvolved motorist and suffered fatal injuries.
Graves stated, "The jury in this case found the defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt for their roles in the murder of Karon Hylton Brown and a related cover up, affirming that what happened here was a serious crime." He emphasized that public safety hinges on trust, a sentiment that is undermined by such egregious actions by members of law enforcement. "Public safety requires public trust. Crimes like this erode that trust and are a disservice to the community and the thousands of officers who work incredibly hard, within the bounds of the Constitution, to keep us safe," Graves explained in U.S. Department of Justice.
In a testament to seeking accountability, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist highlighted the agency's dedication. "The FBI follows the rule of law and works to hold those accountable who violate the law, no matter who they are," said Geist. Today's sentencings punctuate the gravity of the defendants' actions and illuminate the robustness of the criminal justice process.
Beyond the tragic chase, the subsequent cover-up by both Sutton and Zabavsky aggravated the situation. As part of their effort to obscure their misconduct, the officers allowed the motorist involved in the crash to depart the scene quickly, turned off their body cameras for a private discussion, and failed to preserve the crash site. The jury was swayed by evidence that proved Sutton and Zabavsky sought to derail any proper investigation by hiding their roles in the incident and concocting a misleading narrative in their report, downplaying the severity of Hylton-Brown's injuries and the situation.
The case against the officers was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia’s Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit, along with the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Per U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Friedman's orders, following their prison terms, both Sutton and Zabavsky will also serve three years of supervised release for their crimes.
