Marcus Hazel, 32, from Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to strangling his romantic partner, Sandy Watts. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Hazel entered his plea in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of strangulation. Despite objections from the government, a Superior Court judge released Hazel pending sentencing, which is scheduled for March 20, 2026.
According to evidence presented by the government, the incident occurred at about 9:00 a.m. on November 28, 2025. Hazel and Watts were at an apartment on the 2700 block of New York Avenue, NE. The altercation began when Hazel became upset over losing his cell phone. Watts offered her phone for him to use until he found his or bought a new one. Hazel refused and insisted that she buy him a new phone instead. He then began cursing and arguing with Watts. When she repeatedly asked him to leave the apartment, Hazel placed both hands around her neck and applied pressure, restricting her ability to breathe. He then slammed her to the floor and continued choking her until she nearly lost consciousness before fleeing the scene.
Hazel was arrested on November 29, 2025, and has been held in custody since then.
Interim Chief Jeffrey W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined in announcing the plea.
The Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elias Feldman from the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section is prosecuting it.
“Marcus Hazel pleaded guilty today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of strangulation,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
