WASHINGTON — Two Maryland teens will avoid jail time after attacking a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer this past summer in Washington D.C.
According to WJLA-ABC7, both 15-year-old suspects are from Hyattsville.
Despite pleading guilty to assault last month, a judge put aside prosecutors request for incarceration, instead choosing to sentence each teen to probation.
One, who faced multiple felony counts, including robbery, was given 12 months probation, while the second suspect received nine-months.
The victim in this case was 19-year-old Edward Coristine, who gained fame for his "Big Balls" nickname.
Police found Coristine being beaten by a group of 10 juveniles, after he reportedly defended a friend from harassment.
Pictures of a bloodied Coristine quickly circulated on social media garnering the attention of President Donald Trump, who later deployed the National Guard to Washington D.C.
A few days ago, a gang of about a dozen young men tried to assault a woman in her car at night in DC.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 5, 2025
A @Doge team member saw what was happening, ran to defend her and was severely beaten to the point of concussion, but he saved her.
It is time to federalize DC. pic.twitter.com/RPHKj7J3ti
Prosecutors were hoping to have the teens held until their 21st birthday.
Coristine reacted to the lenient punishments on X (formerly Twitter).
"To this day, they’ve only caught two out of the ten. Eight of them remain on the street. That night could’ve gone far differently. Think of your daughters and mothers. The same group attacked people before and after us, breaking ribs and stomping heads. This senseless crime must be stopped."
