Two men convicted of armed robbery and first-degree assault a Silver Spring family and shooting one victim in 2017 each received decades in prison at a sentencing on Wednesday.
Marlo Jenard Johnson, 26, of Hyattsville and Anthony Hewitt, 30, of Townsend, Delaware, targeted the owners of a Washington, D.C., convenience store and followed them to their residence in the 9300 block of New Hampshire Avenue, Montgomery County Circuit Court documents stated.
The defendants robbed a 77-year-old mother and her 53-year-old daughter, then shot the 51-year-old son when he tried to stop them. They were arrested in the District less than an hour later.
Johnson received 40 years in prison, while Hewitt was given 38 years. Both had been charged with a total of 15 counts including first-degree assault, armed robbery and the use of a firearm in a crime of violence. Johnson entered into a plea deal of guilty on all 15 counts on Aug. 23. Hewitt was found guilty on 14 counts in a jury trial that concluded Sept. 6. Hewitt was found guilty of robbing the mother and her daughter but acquitted of robbing the son.
“Justice is served today,” Montgomery County State’s Attorney spokesman Ramón Korionoff said. “Armed robbery and assault on our elderly business owners in the county will not be tolerated. Today’s sentences were deserved and needed. Violent predators must be taken out of circulation in our community.”
Due to the “crimes of violence,” Johnson and Hewitt will be eligible for parole upon the completion of one-half of their sentences, court documents stated. Both have been convicted of gun-related crimes in the past.
Hewitt was arrested in Prince George’s County in 2008 for robbing a victim with a sawed-off shotgun similar to the one he used in the Silver Spring robbery, court documents stated. He was sentenced to five years in prison for the crime.
Johnson was sentenced to eight years in prison for shooting a Pepco employee in 2009 following an altercation, court documents stated. He was apprehended two weeks after the crime for an armed robbery in the District.
Attorney John McKenna, representing Johnson, did not immediately respond to a request.
Attorney Nicki Lotze, representing Hewitt, did not immediately respond to a request.
