DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz modified release conditions for a murder defendant on July 25.
Oliver Gomes, 55, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of Thomas Gray, 61, who died after being struck with a wooden plank on Oct. 14, 2022 at the intersection of 11th and L Streets, NW.
Defense attorney Sara Kopecki told the court that Gomes, who was released in home confinement, wants to visit his mother in Maryland, attend in-person addiction treatment meetings twice a week and attend in-person job interviews. Kopecki argued that he has been compliant with his release conditions since February. She also emphasized that he is doing well with current addiction treatment, but wants to be in-person.
“Even though he’s been keeping up with his appointments, it’s not the same,” Kopecki said.
Gomes is also seeking employment from home to help him pay rent, but has been unsuccessful.
The prosecution, however, believed that since he has only been out of jail for five months, he could still be a danger to the community if he is allowed step back release. They also questioned why he needed to visit his mother, who he was originally supposed to live with while on home arrest.
According to Kopecki, Gomes’ mother kicked him out of her house after an argument about gardening. Explaining the dispute, Kopecki described his mother as “persnickety.”
Judge Kravitz allowed Gomes to visit his mother one afternoon over the weekend, attend one in-person addiction treatment meeting per week and confirm in-person job interviews. He said that he believes the requests are legitimate, but thinks the court should move incrementally.
Judge Kravitz also told Gomes that even if he gets an outside job, he may not grant a work modification but would consider it. Judge Kravitz encouraged Gomes to find remote work.
The prosecutor also noted that Gomes has been involved in several violent or threatening incidents on Metro buses and once was ordered to stay away from them. However, he will need to rely on them to travel.
Kravitz warned Gomes that if he is involved in another incident on a Metro bus, he could go back to house arrest or jail.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Oct. 3.
