Two of the teens involved in the brutal beating of Edward “Big Balls” Coristine—an assault that spurred President Donald Trump’s emergency crime crackdown in Washington, D.C.—have been sentenced to probation instead of jail time. The decision, handed down Tuesday in juvenile court, allows both offenders to avoid incarceration despite the severity of the attack.
The 15-year-old boy was sentenced to 12 months of probation with strict house arrest, while the 15-year-old girl received nine months probation and was placed in a youth shelter. Both pleaded guilty to simple assault. Their names were withheld due to juvenile court protocols.
Coristine, a former staffer at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and now a federal tech worker at the Social Security Administration, suffered a concussion and broken nose after being ambushed on August 3 in D.C. He was attempting to protect his female companion during what was described as a chaotic 3 a.m. carjacking attempt involving approximately ten individuals. Only two have been apprehended; the others remain at large.
The savage beating drew national attention after President Trump posted a graphic police photo of Coristine, shirtless and bloodied, just days after the attack. In the Truth Social post, the president warned that if D.C. crime didn’t come under control, he would move to federalize the city’s law enforcement.
On August 11, Trump followed through—declaring a public safety emergency and placing the D.C. police under federal control. The sweeping action has since led to nearly 4,000 arrests and the seizure of more than 360 illegal firearms, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Coristine addressed the court by video before sentencing, urging the teens to take responsibility. “I hope you can figure things out and be ready for the consequences,” he said, also thanking the Metropolitan Police and courts for their work.
Coristine’s nickname, “Big Balls,” originated from a high school math class and was later adopted as his online persona. Elon Musk reportedly noticed his talents during an internship at Neuralink, later bringing him into the DOGE project, a federal initiative aimed at streamlining government operations.
While Coristine has moved on professionally, the lenient sentencing in his case has stirred criticism from those demanding tougher consequences for violent offenders—especially in cases that highlight the rising crime gripping the nation’s capital.
