04/21/2005

By THERESA DICKIE BRANSCOME  / Associated Press

The suspect in the death of a member of Mayor Anthony A. Williams' cabinet pleaded guilty Thursday to murder.

William M. Parrott, Jr., 38, admitted to second-degree murder while armed with a knife in the death of Wanda R. Alston, 45, the mayor's special assistant for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender affairs and a Newport News, Va., native.

"I am ashamed and sorry," Parrott told District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Judith Retchin.

He went on to say that he killed Alston on March 16 after a "binge of smoking crack cocaine, marijuana and alcohol." He said he took a knife from his kitchen, went two doors down to Alston's Northeast Washington home, and stabbed her.

Alston, he said, "never done anything to me."

Parrott then stole Alston's keys, drove her car and used her credit cards to sell gasoline to people in Maryland and the District. He used the cash from these sales to "continue to get high" on crack cocaine.

Parrott confessed to the crime after he was arrested.

"He has wanted to take responsibility from the first day," Parrott's attorney, Lexi Negin Christ, said afterward.

She said Parrott is "extremely remorseful, and he's crying in the back. He's devastated by this, by her death."

In a statement, Williams said he was "gratified that the police and prosecutors were able to bring this case to a close so quickly."

Parrott was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed with a knife. The second-degree charge to which he pleaded carries a maximum of life in prison. But voluntary sentencing guidelines call for 12-24 years if a person has no criminal background.

Parrott will be sentenced on July 29. The family will be involved in the sentencing process, said Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cummings.

"I'm saddened because of the fact that he is a first-time offender," said one of Alston's friends, Earline Budd. She described the prospect of him serving the minimum sentence as "frightening."

When the judge asked why he decided to plead guilty, Parrott replied, "The way I was raised, you have to take responsibility for your actions."