MINNEAPOLIS – A defendant received his sentence for his involvement in a fatal carjacking that sparked a controversial debate over sentencing and rehabilitating young offenders. Hennepin County District Court Judge Michael Burns sentenced 20-year-old Husayn Braveheart to 54 months in prison. However, the defendant was credited for time already served, making him eligible for release as soon as next week.

Braveheart pleaded guilty to a lesser count of first-degree attempted assault – great bodily harm in the death of 39-year-old Steven Markey. Markey was carjacked at gunpoint on June 11, 2019, resulting in Ohsman fatally shooting him. Ohsman, who was 16 at the time of the murder, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is serving a 21-year sentence. Braveheart was 15 at the time of the crime.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office initially proposed a plea deal that would have sentenced Braveheart to supervised release, citing progress and amenability to treatment. However, Judge Burns rejected this deal. Despite the controversial decision, he acknowledged the right of the defense and the state to negotiate another deal. This decision disappointed Markey’s family, who felt the new plea deal was done without their consultation and referred to the sentence as a sham.

The prosecutor, Moriarty, defended the decision, emphasizing the balance of holding people accountable, public safety, and reaching a fair and just result. He highlighted Braveheart’s progress and responsiveness to treatment during his incarceration, expressing hope that the treatment received will prevent future crime.

Braveheart will be back in court for a hearing on two aggravated robbery cases prior to Markey’s death. The judge has set bond at $250,000 in those cases, allowing Braveheart to be released upon posting bond. This case has ignited debate over the sentencing and rehabilitation of young offenders in the criminal justice system.