Two 15‑year‑olds from Maryland were sentenced Tuesday for their roles in a violent August 3 assault in Washington, D.C., involving Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, a former staffer at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Coristine intervened when a group of teens attempted a carjacking near Logan Circle and was severely beaten—sustaining a concussion and broken nose.
In court, the male teen pleaded guilty to charges including attempted robbery and simple assault and received 12 months of probation with strict house‑confinement conditions. The female teen pleaded guilty to simple assault and was sentenced to nine months of probation and placement in a youth shelter. Neither will serve time in jail. Both are barred from entering most of D.C. and from contacting each other, and must adhere to other restrictions and community service requirements.
Judges emphasized that juvenile court focuses on rehabilitation over punishment. Judge Kendra D. Briggs stated she hopes the probation period will serve as a real turning point for the teens. However, the lenient sentences sparked widespread criticism from political figures and the public.
Former President Donald Trump strongly condemned the verdict, calling it “terrible” and saying the judge should be “ashamed.” He renewed earlier calls to federalize D.C. law enforcement, using the incident as justification for deploying the National Guard and placing the city’s police under federal control. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk also weighed in with harsh words, calling the verdict “racist” and suggesting that the outcome would have been different if the assailants were white.
The case has become a flash point in debates over juvenile justice, crime policy in the nation’s capital, and how cities should respond to violent youth crime. It highlights the tension between rehabilitating young offenders and responding to high‑profile violent incidents with tougher penalties. The aftermath shows both the limits of the juvenile system and the broader political implications of sentencing decisions in major cities.
