Judge Holds 3 Defendants During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 15, 2020
Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

On Oct. 14, DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann held three defendants in DC Jail and released 25 during initial hearings. 

Keshawn Lavender, 19, was held on a carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business charge. Judge Herrmann said Lavender had another pending case against him for the same charge and decided to hold him. 

One defendant was held in a domestic violence assault case. “He is a risk to the victim and should be detained,” said the prosecutor. 

His attorney, Stephen Riddel, argued that he is not any real danger to the community and should be released under supervision of the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA).

Judge Herrmann agreed with the prosecution, noting that court documents stated the defendant attempted to strangle the victim.  

Judge Herrmann held a second domestic violence defendant, who is charged with contempt of a Temporary Protective Order (TPO). He has also been noncompliant with release conditions for ongoing cases involving a simple assault. The defendant pleaded not guilty, but the judge denied his release and ruled that he should be detained. 

Of those who were released, one defendant had their case continued due to being hospitalized at the time of the hearing. 

There were four additional defendants charged with domestic violence-related crimes. All were given stay-away orders from their victims. 

Six defendants included three charged with felony drug possession. However, all were released with orders to report to PSA before their next hearing on March 17, 2021.  

The other three felony defendants were charged with weapons-related offenses. One defendant was released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). He is required to be monitored by GPS and must abide by a curfew or else risk being detained.  

Judge Herrmann released 11 defendants on misdemeanor charges under various conditions including contacting PSA, stay-away orders and appearing on March 17, 2021, to further address the charges. 

One defendant was initially arrested on a fugitive charge and has two misdemeanor cases from 2018. Judge Herrmann released the defendant so he could take care of the fugitive matter. However, she instructed the defendant to call PSA for direction on how to proceed with those outstanding charges.  

Three defendants in total were arrested on fugitive charges. All were ordered to turn themselves in to the demanding jurisdictions before their extradition hearings on Dec. 30.

Two final defendants were released on bail with orders to return to court for their next hearing.

This article was written by Maria Marzullo and Emily Pengelly