DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz allowed a stabbing defendant to remain on probation, despite multiple violations on Oct. 24.
On May 25, 2022, Gabriel Esquina, 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault knowingly for his involvement in the stabbing of his child’s mother that occurred on Dec. 29, 2022 on the 2800 block of Myrtle Avenue NE.
On Sept. 15, 2022, Esquina was sentenced to 60 months confinement under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) with all but 48 months suspended. The YRA allows for a defendant’s conviction to be sealed if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements.
Esquina was also required to take anger management classes, complete a mental health assessment, and was given a special stay away order from his parents as part of his sentence.
Esquina appeared for his first probation show-cause hearing on Aug. 20, and was given an opportunity by the Community Service Officer (CSO) to work on his compliance for 60 days.
After 60 days, Esquina’s CSO said that she had seen improvement with Esquina’s compliance, and that he had been making strides in keeping appointments and maintaining communication and that Esquina had also successfully completed his mental health assessment on Oct. 16.
However, she noted that Esquina had missed a virtual visit on Oct. 22, and had a questionable drug test result on Oct. 21 that was not within the normal range. Esquina’s most recent drug test from Oct. 23 came back negative.
It was recommended by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) to Judge Kravitz that another show-cause hearing be scheduled in 60 days in order to ensure full compliance, to which there were no objections.
Esquina’s defense attorney, Henry Escoto, requested that Esquina’s current stay-away order from his parents be lifted. Escoto told Judge Kravitz that he had spoken with them multiple times within the past week, and both of them were adamant to keep the order in force.
Judge Kravitz notified the defense that as a late entrant, he did not have enough information to properly rule without a written motion from the defense, to which they agreed.
Parties are slated to convene on Jan. 16.
