New Hope Man Wants to Withdraw Guilty Plea for Plymouth Shoe Shooting
A New Hope man who pleaded guilty in a robbery-turned-murder over a pair of high-end shoes is trying to withdraw his plea.
In November 2023, Hans Madave, 20, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the Plymouth shooting of 17-year-old Yaseen Johnson.
Co-conspirator Augustus Sirleaf also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Madave had a court hearing on Monday, March 25. Against the advice of his attorney, he asked to rescind his guilty plea and go to trial.
His attorney, Ira Whitlock, wrote in court documents that Madave “claims he is not guilty and the shooting, which ultimately lead to the death of the victim, was not reasonably foreseeable as a probable consequence of committing or attempting to commit the intended robbery.”
A judge will ultimately decided if Madave can withdraw his plea.
Madave’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 1.
According to the criminal complaints filed in the case, Sirleaf and a co-conspirator — who prosecutors allege was Madave — arranged to sell a high-end pair of Balenciaga sneakers.
Investigators say the arrangement was a setup for a robbery.
Sirleaf and his co-conspirator got into a car with Johnson.
When Johnson stated his intent to buy the sneakers and handed over the money, Sirleaf demanded to keep the shoes and the money.
Johnson refused, and was shot three times. He died at the scene.
