WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two teenagers who tried to carjack a former U.S. DOGE Service staffer in August — an incident that caught the attention of former President Donald Trump and fueled his call for a tougher stance on crime in the nation’s capital — were sentenced Tuesday to probation.
The ruling immediately sparked backlash from members of the Trump administration, who argued that the city’s justice system continues to go easy on juvenile offenders.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted the decision during an appearance on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” calling it another example of what she described as D.C.’s lax approach to youth crime.
Superior Court Judge Kendra Briggs defended her decision, saying her duty is to “rehabilitate, not punish,” as she handed down probation instead of jail time for the two defendants.
Lenient sentence reignites debate over juvenile crime
The 15-year-old boy, whose name was withheld because of his age, received a one-year probation sentence after pleading guilty to four counts linked to two incidents on the same August night: attempted robbery and simple assault on Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, and felony assault and robbery at a nearby gas station just minutes earlier.
Coristine, a 19-year-old software engineer and former federal intern reportedly mentored by Elon Musk, was attacked while exiting his vehicle near his apartment. The suspects fled after he resisted the attempted carjacking.
The high-profile case gained national attention when Trump referenced it during a rally, citing it as evidence of what he called “the breakdown of law and order in Washington.”
Officials say ruling undermines public safety
Several administration officials echoed Trump’s stance, saying the sentence sends the wrong message to would-be offenders. “This administration has a completely different philosophy,” Leavitt said. “We need law and order.”
Advocates for juvenile justice reform, however, defended the ruling, saying incarceration often leads to worse outcomes for minors and that rehabilitation programs can prevent future crimes.
The second teen involved in the attack, also 15, received similar probation terms and mandatory counseling. Both were ordered to attend a city-run restorative justice program and complete community service.