The son of former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry and a D.C. council candidate in his own right on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to three misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an altercation with a bank teller over his overdrawn account.
Marion Christopher Barry was released from custody on his own recognizance and ordered to stay away from both the PNC Bank in Northwest and the teller involved. He is charged with simple assault, destruction of property and attempted threats to do bodily harm.
Court documents state that Barry, who is running for his father’s Ward 8 seat on the D.C. Council, threatened the bank teller and threw a trash can at the teller after he was informed he could not withdraw the desired amount of money from his account. During the transaction on Jan. 13, Barry sought to withdraw $20,000 from his account but was informed that his account was overdrawn by $2,000 and that a check deposited the day prior had not cleared.
According to a police affidavit, Barry, 34, began cursing and threatening the teller, saying something to the effect of, “I’m going to have someone meet you when you get off work … better yet, I’m going around the corner and coming back.”
A bank manager asked Barry to leave and he turned to exit the building, but then picked up a metal trash can and hurled it over a plexiglass window at the teller. The trash can hit a surveillance camera in the process, causing $1,000 in damage.
On Wednesday, before his appearance in D.C. Superior Court, Barry issued an apology for his actions on Twitter.
“I apologize to my Ward 8 community and my supporters for the incident that took place last week,” he wrote. “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.”
The Ward 8 race is a crowded field with more than 20 prospective candidates, but Barry, despite having never held public office, was presumed to be a front-runner due to his father’s legacy.
The latest charges could create complications for his political aspirations. Barry has been convicted of drug and traffic offenses over the last few years and was on probation for another offense at the time of the bank incident.
An additional hearing is scheduled on the latest charges for Feb. 13.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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