'I'm your character witness!' | Mother of Karon Hylton-Brown erupts at officer convicted in son's death

WASHINGTON — The mother of Karon Hylton-Brown castigated the former DC Police officer convicted of his murder Tuesday along with dozens of other officers who showed up in court to support him, saying they were devaluing the memory of her son’s life.

Officer Terence Dale Sutton, 40, was convicted in December 2022 of second-degree murder for chasing 20-year-old Hylton-Brown after an attempted traffic stop in the Brightwood Park neighborhood. The chase, which lasted only three-and-a-half-minutes, ended when Hylton-Brown rode his moped out of an alley and onto Kennedy Street, where he was struck by oncoming traffic. At trial, Sutton and his supervising officer, Lt. Andrew Zabavsky, were also convicted of conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction of justice for their alleged efforts to cover up the details of the chase and crash.

Sutton, who was assigned to the department’s Crime Suppression Team at the time of the crash, was the first officer in DC Police history to be convicted of murder in the line of duty. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman scheduled his sentencing to take place over a two-day period this week beginning Tuesday and finishing Wednesday.

Ahead of Tuesday’s hearing, more than 40 current and former law enforcement officers submitted written statements to Friedman in support of Sutton’s character. The majority of the letters were submitted with names redated to “avoid any risk to the officers’ safety, retaliation or disciplinary action against them for publicly supporting Officer Sutton,” according to a filing by Sutton’s attorneys.

One signed letter, written by retired DC Police Officer Mike Fanone, described Sutton as a man dedicated to his job and his community.

“I know people are hurting and a family will be without a loved one,” Fanone wrote. “But the Dale Sutton I know did not wake up one day after years of service to the community and decide that he wanted to do harm to someone.”

Many other letters criticized the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its decision to bring the case at all – saying it would harm other officers’ ability and willingness to do their job.

“I am in tears because Terence should not have been charged or convicted of murder. My heart is broken,” one letter read.

Another officer assigned to the 4th District, Officer Esmeralda Zamora, spoke Tuesday via Zoom. She said the case had made her question whether there was a future for her in law enforcement.

“How can we be asked to actively patrol our beats, detain offenders and do our duties when we’re constantly wondering if we could become the next Terence Sutton?” Zamora said.

The officers who attended the hearing in support of Sutton and Zabavsky largely sat on one side of the courtroom. Sitting on the other, Hylton grew increasingly agitated while they gave their statements. While one officer was speaking, Hylton repeatedly said the hearing should be about her son, not Sutton.

“My child is dead,” Hylton said, loud enough to be audible by anyone on her side of the public gallery. “F*** his character.”

Hylton was previously removed from Sutton and Zabavsky’s trial and was arrested on the day they were convicted after a courtroom outburst. She was latter charged with assaulting a U.S. Marshal, but was acquitted by a jury last December. Once it was her turn to speak, Hylton addressed Friedman first, acknowledging her rocky history with the judge.

“We have had our problems,” Friedman agreed.

Years of grief then erupted out of Hylton as she shouted at Sutton, Friedman, other officers and even the prosecutors who tried the case. Most of her ire remained directed at Sutton, however, who she accused of terrorizing her sons and other young Black men in the Kennedy Street area.

“People will think this was the first chase, Sutton,” Hylton said. “No. It was the last chase, Sutton.”

While federal prosecutors have asked Friedman to sentence Sutton to 18 years in prison, Hylton asked for the maximum allowed under statute: 40 years. She asked the judge to listen to her, not the officers in the gallery.

“I’m your character witness!” Hylton said, looking at Sutton. “My baby is resting because of you. I’m your character witness! The best one you’ve got.”

After Hylton spoke, Friedman heard from additional witnesses who spoke in Sutton’s favor, including former DC Police Chief Peter Newsham. Newsham, now chief of the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia, said he believed there was “absolutely no way in the world” Sutton would have known his conduct during the chase was criminal.

Once Newsham had finished speaking, Hylton followed him outside the courtroom and shouted at him: “Hew Newsham! I hope they kill your child too!”

Friedman was expected to hear from additional witnesses and further arguments from attorneys on both sides Wednesday before delivering his sentences. Sutton’s attorneys are seeking a suspended prison sentence and a term of probation of up to five years.