DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur denied the request for release of a carjacking defendant during a July 1 hearing.
Raysean Brown, 29, is charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of threatening to kidnap or injure a person, armed carjacking, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of reckless driving, unauthorized use of a vehicle, fleeing a law enforcement officer, and destruction of property $1,000 or more for his alleged involvement in a carjacking and shooting on the 5200 block of Georgia Avenue, NW, on May 23, 2024. No injuries were reported.
Brown’s attorney, Joseph McCoy, asked Judge Arthur to release Brown, arguing that Brown has been behaving since his arrest. Prosecutors countered that due to his prior convictions, current warrants in Maryland and Virginia, and the fact that he was on supervised release at the time of the incident, Brown would be a danger to the community if released.
The prosecution also raised the concern that Brown has relationships with several of the witnesses and could potentially pose a threat to them if he were released.
Judge Arthur denied McCoy’s request to release Brown.
Addressing another issue, McCoy asked the court not to permit cell site evidence, that the prosecution plans to use. McCoy said that the prosecution acted negligently by not filing notice to use that data sooner. The prosecution had filed notice of their cell site data expert just two days before the July 1 hearing. McCoy requested that, if the judge decided to permit the evidence, he and Brown be given more time to review the evidence and prepare a defense.
Judge Arthur ruled that cell site data would be permitted into evidence and ordered the parties to reconvene on September 23.
