Marion Christopher Barry

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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 pleaded 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

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