District Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison
For Series of Burglaries in 2010 in Northwest Washington
- Defendant is Repeat Offender -

     WASHINGTON – Darrell Waynes, 53, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 25 years of incarceration on charges stemming from a series of burglaries in Northwest Washington during the first four months of 2010, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced today.

     Waynes pled guilty in December 2011 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one charge of first degree burglary and one charge of second degree burglary. He was sentenced on February 17, 2012 by the Honorable Anthony C. Epstein. Upon completion of his prison term, Waynes will be placed on five years of supervised release.

     At the plea hearing, Waynes admitted that on March 23, 2010, he broke into a residence on Legation Street NW, and stole property from inside, including a unique ring that he pawned the next day at a pawn shop in Maryland. Waynes also admitted that on the night of April 16, 2010 or the morning of April 17, 2010, he entered a home on McKinley Street NW and stole property, including car keys. He then used the keys to steal a car parked outside the home. Waynes was arrested on April 18, 2010, driving that stolen car.

     Additional investigation also linked Waynes to other crimes in Northwest Washington, including an attempted burglary on April 12, 2010 on 32nd Place NW. In that incident, he broke the window of the home, but fled when the resident returned – leaving behind a fingerprint.

     In sentencing papers, prosecutors described Waynes as a “career burglar,” noting that he has been convicted of breaking into people’s homes and stealing property in a series of cases dating back more than 30 years. The judge cited the defendant’s record at the sentencing.

     In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen expressed his appreciation to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), especially Detective John Paprcka of the Second District. He also commended the work of Paralegal Allison Daniels and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Rickard, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

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