Jump to content

Marion Christopher Barry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bangabandhu (talk | contribs) at 00:08, 22 April 2016. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Marion Christopher Barry (born June 17, 1980[1]) is the son of former Washington D.C. mayor, Marion Barry. He was a candidate for Council member for Ward 8 in 2015.[2]

Early life

Marion Christopher Barry is his father's only son, born to his third wife, Effi Slaughter Barry.[2] His father had wanted to name him Marion Barry III, but Effi was strongly opposed, and they decided to give him the middle name Christopher instead.[3]

He attended a private elementary school,[4] St. Albans School for Boys.[5] He was pulled from the school after teasing by his classmates about his father's problems with women and drugs.[6]

After his parents divorced, he moved to Hampton, Virginia, with his mother.[6] He later moved back to Washington, where he attended Woodrow Wilson High School, and the University of the District of Columbia.[7]

In 2015, he described his relationship with his father being "more like brothers than father and son.”[6] While his drug addiction grew, he felt his father was unsympathetic to his problems.[6] "Him having struggled with drugs, I would have wished he was there more. But he was more concerned about politics."[6] Marion says he is now sober with help from Jim Graham.[6]

Adult life

Barry owns a small construction business, Efficiency Contractors LLC, named in honor of his mother.[8][9]

2005

In 2005, three police officers reported to an apartment where there was loud music and smelled like marijuana.[10] Officers announced their presence several times and, after no response, they opened the door.[11] Barry was alone in the apartment, which belonged to a friend.[11] According to a court report, Barry swung at one of the police officers, placed the officer in a headlock, and punched the officer in the face several times.[10] The officers wrestled Barry to the ground while Barry repeatedly said, "Get out of my house."[10] Barry was arrested and charged with assault of a police officer.[10] In court, Barry plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge, acknowledging that he resisted arrest but denying punching or choking a police officer.[11] Barry's plea agreement with prosecutors required that he maintain a job, enroll in school, and not use drugs.[12] In 2006, Barry's drug test showed use of marijuana, resulting in a warning from a judge.[12]

2011

In 2011, police officers were flagged down by an individual who said there was fighting and screaming inside Barry's apartment.[13] Police officers reported to the apartment and announced their presence.[14] When Barry refused to open the door, police officers entered the apartment.[14] They found a half-ounce vial of liquid PCP and five sandwich bags of marijuana inside.[7][8] Barry jumped out of the first-floor apartment window and ran, leaving blood on the floor.[14] Barry later returned, and he was treated for a bleeding foot and arrested.[14] Barry admitted that he was “self-medicating” with the drugs, and he was sentenced to 18 months of probation.[8] The judge required Barry to undergo drug and grief counseling while on probation.[15] Barry said that his experience with drug use makes him more qualified to help others going through "rough times in life".[8]

2013

In August 2013, police officers in Hampton, Virginia, pulled over Barry's car for driving erratically.[16] According to court documents, police officers found marijuana on Barry and in the car.[16] Barry was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and possession of marijuana.[16]

2014

In May 2014, Barry was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and operating a car without a license.[15] Later in the same month, Barry was arrested for failing to obey a police officer, and the judge suspended his driver's license.[15] Later that month, Barry was arrested for unlawful entry of a residence.[15] Two months later, Barry was arrested for driving with a suspended license.[15] In November 2014, Barry entered a plea deal to resolve charges related to two separate incidents in 2013 in which he was found to be driving on a revoked license.[2] In one instance, he was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.[2] He was sentenced to nine months of probation for those offenses.[2]

His father, Marion S. Barry died of cardiac arrest on November 23, 2014, at age 78.[17] In his father's memorial service at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Barry memorialized his father, and he mentioned memories of a sometimes difficult relationship with him.[2] He introduced Louis Farrakhan, who in turn gave a blessing to the younger Barry.[2] "What a joy to hear his son speak the way his son spoke," Farrakhan said.[2]

2015

On January 13, 2015, Barry requested to withdraw $20,000 from bank account at PNC Bank.[18] A teller disapproved the withdrawal because Barry's bank account was overdrawn by $2,000.[6] Barry allegedly threatened the bank teller, saying, "I'm going to have someone waiting for you when you get off, you bitch," and destroyed a surveillance camera.[6] Barry was charged with simple assault, threats, and destruction of property.[19]

On January 21, Barry appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges; he was ordered to stay away from the bank and the teller.[19] On Twitter, Barry apologized to his followers.[19][20][21]

Prosecutors offered Barry a plea deal; the simple assault charge would be dropped if Barry were to plea guilty to the misdemeanor charges of attempted threats and destruction of property,[22] with up to 360 days of jail time.[23] Barry did not accept the plea deal.[23]

Asked about the event at PNC Bank, Barry said, "You have people sometimes that take advantage of their positions. I just think that when she sees the name 'Marion Barry,' she for some reason doesn't like me."[6] Thinking back to the event, Barry said, "I don't think I had realized how much I was still mourning."[6]

As part of a plea deal,[24] Barry pled guilty to all three counts.[25] He was sentenced to a 270-day suspended sentence and 12 months of probation.[25]

Campaign for Council Member

For most of his adult life, Barry went by his middle name, Christopher, but after his father's death started referring to himself as Marion.[2] On January 5, 2015, Barry announced that he would run for the Council of the District of Columbia representing Ward 8, which was vacant after the death of his father.[2] Barry appeared on the ballot as "Marion C. Barry."[2] He was endorsed by former mayoral candidate Sulaimon Brown and former District Council Member Jim Graham.[26][27]

In the special election, Barry came in sixth place with eight percent of the votes.[28][29]

After the special election

During a hearing held in June 2015, a judge found that Barry violated the terms of his probation by driving with a revoked license.[30] The judge sentenced Barry to fifteen days in jail, to be served during five consecutive weekends beginning in July.[30]

References

  1. ^ Robinson, Eugene (June 18, 1980). "A Boy for the Barrys: Mayor's Wife Gives Birth at Columbia Hospital". The Washington Post. p. B1. Retrieved March 19, 2015. Wearing a white hospital coat over his green surgical tunic and pants, Mayor Marion Barry came out of the Columbia Hospital delivery room yesterday with a box of cigars and announced, grinning with relief, 'It's a boy.' Just two weeks short of full term, the baby weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces, the mayor said, and was 19 inches long. It is the couple's first child. Born at 5:44 p.m., the baby will be called Marion Christopher Barry. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |registration= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Davis, Aaron (January 5, 2015). "Marion Barry's son will seek to fill father's seat on D.C. Council". Washington Post. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
  3. ^ West, Diana (July 5, 1990). "Effi: The private life of a political wife". The Washington Times. p. E1.
  4. ^ "Despite Scandals, D.C. Mayor Expected to Be Released Early". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 3, 1986. p. F2.
  5. ^ Suderman, Alan (November 16, 2012). "Marion Barry's Selective Memory". Washington City Paper.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sommer, Will (April 23, 2015). "Up in the Heir: Ward 8 Picks Marion Barry's Successor". Washington City Paper.
  7. ^ a b Williams, Clarence (February 19, 2005). "Barry's Son in Police Custody". Washington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d Noble, Andrea (January 5, 2015). "Marion Barry's son announces bid for late father's council seat". Washington Times. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  9. ^ DeBonis, Mike (December 16, 2014). "Marion Barry's son, and many others, contemplate filling his Ward 8 Council seat". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d Mohammed, Valencia (February 26, 2005). "Marion C. Barry arrested". Afro-American Red Star. Washington, D.C. p. A1.
  11. ^ a b c Cauvin, Henri E. (April 6, 2005). "Barry's Son Pleads Guilty To Assault". The Washington Post. p. B3.
  12. ^ a b "District Briefing". The Washington Post. May 4, 2006. p. B4.
  13. ^ Yoes, Sean (July 20, 2011). "Marion Barry's oldest son arrested on drug charges". Michigan Chronicle. Detroit, Michigan. p. A3.
  14. ^ a b c d Alexander, Keith L. (July 14, 2011). "Warrant issued for Barry son rescinded". The Washington Post. p. B5.
  15. ^ a b c d e Alexander, Keith L. (August 1, 2014). "Christopher Barry, son of Marion Barry, jailed in D.C. for driving without license: D.C. councilmember's son Christopher Barry, 34, has been arrested four times since early May". The Washington Post.
  16. ^ a b c Hermann, Peter (August 28, 2013). "Barry's son arrested on drug charge in Virginia". The Washington Post.
  17. ^ Ballhaus, Rebecca; Miller, Stephen (November 24, 2014). "Marion Barry, Former Washington Mayor, Dies at 78". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Co. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  18. ^ Noble, Andrea (January 21, 2015). "Marion Barry's son pleads not guilty in bank dustup". Washington Times.
  19. ^ a b c Alexander, Keith (January 21, 2015). "Marion Barry's son charged with destruction of property". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  20. ^ Barry, Marion C. (January 21, 2015). "I apologize to my Ward 8 community and my supporters for the incident that took place last week. (1/2)". Twitter.
  21. ^ Barry, Marion C. (January 21, 2015). "I know that I have a great responsibility as a leader in Ward 8. I am committed to rise up and carry the torch in my father's legacy. (2/2)". Twitter.
  22. ^ Alexander, Keith L.; DeBonis, Mike (February 13, 2015). "Prosecutors offer Marion Barry's son a plea deal in bank assault case". Washington City Paper.
  23. ^ a b Sommer, Will (March 9, 2015). "Marion C. Barry Lets Plea Deal Offer Expire". Washington City Paper.
  24. ^ Sommer, Will (May 15, 2015). "Barry Will Take Plea Over Alleged Bank Outburst". Washington City Paper.
  25. ^ a b Sommer, Will (May 20, 2015). "Marion C. Barry Gets Probation for Bank Charges, Backs Off Ward 8 Race". Washington City Paper.
  26. ^ Sommer, Will (April 16, 2015). "Sulaimon Brown Falls Out With Muriel Bowser, Makes His Endorsements". Washington City Paper. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  27. ^ Sommer, Will (February 23, 2015). "Jim Graham Backs Marion C. Barry in Ward 8 Race". Washington City Paper. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  28. ^ "Certified Results, Special Election, 2015". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. May 14, 2015.
  29. ^ Hauslohner, Abigail (May 8, 2015). "Bowser ally LaRuby May victorious in Ward 8 council race by a 1.09% margin". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  30. ^ a b Alexander, Keith L.; Davis, Aaron C. (June 25, 2015). "Christopher Barry, the son of D.C.'s former mayor, ordered to jail". The Washington Post.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marion_Christopher_Barry&oldid=716478932"