Judge Detains Shooting Defendant Following Probation Violations

By Adriana Marroquin - October 11, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Oct. 11, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt detained a non-fatal shooting defendant in the DC Jail due to release condition violations. 

Markeis Crandall, 20, was originally charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting that left two individuals injured on Nov. 26, 2021, on the 2200 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE. 

On Feb. 4, 2022, Crandall accepted a plea offer extended by prosecutors that required he plead guilty to one count of aggravated assault knowingly while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges and prosecutors not seeking an indictment. 

On May 17, 2022, he was sentenced to 72 months for each charge concurrent to one another, with a suspended sentence, which enabled his release back to the community under a Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) probation sentence. 

During his release, Crandall was required to be on GPS monitoring, attend anger management classes and frequently test for drugs, as well as refrain from the use of illegal drugs and maintain or seek employment. He was also required to pay $200 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund (VVCF) and register as a gun offender. 

Crandall has reportedly been non-compliant since he was released, being re-arrested May 9, and released again May 23. 

During the Oct. 11 hearing, probation officers from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) alerted the court that Crandall’s involvement in an anger management class was terminated because he was non-compliant.

According to the probation officers, Crandall has also tested positive for fentanyl use various times, and has failed to be compliant with the GPS monitoring and his curfew. When told by the probation officers that he should go to an inpatient drug treatment, he refused their recommendation.

Prosecutors agreed with probation officers, arguing that the court had been generous to him with several opportunities, and had his sentence been fully suspended, to let him get himself together. 

Prosecutors agreed he should be required to participate in an in-patient treatment, and if he refuses they request he be arrested and sentenced to the 72 months incarceration. 

Sellano Simmons, Crandall’s defense attorney, agreed he should participate in the in-patient treatment, but alerted the court that he had not been made aware that Crandall was non-compliant in a previous conversation with his client and the probation officers. 

Judge Brandt questioned Crandall’s use of fentanyl stating, “I don’t understand what makes people continue to use drugs when articles show people are dying… maybe you’ve got a death wish”. 

“Your behavior is beginning to make me think you want to go to prison, this truly is the last straw,” she told Crandall.

Judge Brandt detained Crandall as they await CSOSA’s in-patient treatment placing recommendation. 

“This is it. If you can’t pull it together, the next time we are together you will be sent to prison. This stops now,” said Judge Brandt. 

Parties are expected back on Oct. 17 to find out which in-patient treatment CSOSA recommends he participate in.