Christopher F. Isani was sentenced to eight years in prison Friday, Jan. 20. Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Leslie M. Alden suspended four of the eight-year sentence, but told Isani, 19, he will be placed on active probation for four years after his release.
Isani's defense attorney Michael Davis called the case Isani's "first experience with the adult [criminal] system."
"I realize this is a first felony conviction as an adult, but if follows a long interaction with the legal system," Alden said, immediately before sentencing the Mount Vernon teenager. "This is an aggravated case, and the modification of the weapons is an indication of professionalism."
Eighteen weapons, including shotguns and handguns, were stolen from a residence in the Fort Hunt area on March 1, 2005, according to police reports and statements from prosecutors during earlier court proceedings. The daughter of the gun's owners was an acquaintance of Isani and a police investigation led police to him, prosecutors said.
"The facts of this case, on statutory burglary, are quite disturbing," said Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Katherine E. Stott. "What is most disturbing," she said, is after the guns were taken, Isani "sells them" and "pawns them" and "put them out in the community."
Some weapons were recovered, but not all, prosecutors said after Isani's plea hearing in November. Seven of the weapons were discovered in a July, 2005 search of Isani's home and vehicle in the 1500 block of Baltimore Road, according to court documents. Some of the firearms were sold to Isani's acquaintances, who range in age from 17 to 23 years old, according to police.
A sawed-off shotgun and handgun were recovered from the home of a 17-year-old from Fort Hunt and another handgun was recovered from a 18-year-old in the Fort Hunt area.
"All shotguns recovered had been sawed off," according to police reports, and "serial numbers had been removed from many of the weapons."
<b>ISANI COOPERATED</b> with police and assisted them with his case and others, his attorney, Davis, told Judge Alden. Isani was not the only one involved, he said.
"He does appear to be genuinely remorseful," Davis said, and "has done what he can to correct the problem."
Davis said his client is "deserving of a chance" to be a productive citizen. Isani is about to become a father, "which is something that has changed his attitude considerably towards life and his future."
"My belief is he is going to change," Davis said.
Judge Alden cited numerous letters of support written from members of the community on Isani's behalf. Alden gave Isani the opportunity to speak before he was sentenced.
"I'm sorry to the victim, I'm sorry to the Commonwealth, and if I could take it back, I would," Isani said.