Woman gets 24 years in hotel slaying of BigLaw attorney
A 21-year-old woman who pleaded guilty earlier this year to second-degree murder in a fatal February stabbing attack on a DLA Piper attorney at a Washington, D.C., hotel was sentenced Friday to 24 years in prison.
Prosecutors had sought a 25-year term for Jamyra Gallmon, who they said intended to rob David Messerschmitt, 30, when she posed as a man and responded to his Craigslist sex ad, reports the Washington Post (reg. req.).
The two met at the Donovan Hotel on Feb. 9. Prosecutors said in a sentencing memo that Gallmon, who came armed with a small knife and zip ties, tried to rob Messerschmitt and he resisted, reports an earlier Washington Post (req. req.) article.
When Messerschmitt grabbed her arm, she had a flashback to an assault years earlier, Gallmon told police. After stabbing the attorney seven times, she stole $40 in cash and a subway card with a $172 balance.
Gallmon’s former roommate, Dominique Johnson, 19, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery for her role in the crime. Prosecutors said she knew about the planned robbery in advance and accompanied Gallmon when the zip ties were purchased, WUSA reported earlier. The Washington Post says Johnson also waited outside the hotel room while Gallmon went inside to rob Messerschmitt.
Johnson got a 12-month term, with six months suspended, followed by three years of probation, reports CBS DC.
The Blog of Legal Times (sub. req.) and WUSA also have stories about today’s sentencing.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Woman pleads guilty in hotel stabbing death of DLA Piper lawyer”
ABAJournal.com: “Second woman faces criminal case in connection to slaying of BigLaw attorney at D.C. hotel”
Blog of Legal Times (sub. req.): “Slain DLA Lawyer’s Colleagues, Friends and Family Reflect on Loss”
