DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld denied release modification for a carjacking defendant in a March 26 hearing.
Dale Benjamin, 37, is charged with armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in an armed carjacking on the 4400 block of Bennington Road, SE, on Sept. 15, 2024.
Benjamin’s defense attorney, Clarence Powell, requested that Judge Hertzfeld remove his client from GPS monitoring, as the electronic box around his ankle makes his job working with “at-risk youths” difficult.
The prosecution objected to this release modification because there is a concern for community safety, and the defendant is a repeat offender.
Benjamin will remain on GPS monitoring with a curfew.
During the hearing, Benjamin also rejected a plea offer, which required him to plead guilty to armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The case will now continue to trial.
Parties are slated to reconvene on June 11.
