A defendant in a firearms possession case requested a new attorney after reading an emotional letter in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno on July 2.
Mekhi McAllister, 21, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business and unlawful discarding of a firearm or ammunition. These charges stem from Mcallister’s alleged possession and attempted disposal of illegal firearms on the 1200 block of Savannah Place, SE on June 6, 2026.
According to court documents, minutes prior to McAllister’s arrest, ShotSpotter, a software used by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to detect gunfire in the city, detected one round at the approximate location where McAllister was arrested.
During the hearing, McAllister’s defense attorney, Lisbeth Sapirstein, requested that Judge Salerno reconsider his decision to hold McAllister. Sapirstein established that McAllister takes this offense very seriously.
The prosecution wanted the defendant to remain incarcerated, mentioning his past firearm related offense to demonstrate his risk to the community. The judge concurred with the prosecution.
Then, McAllister asked Judge Salerno if he could address two concerns before the court. Initially, he read a letter written to the Judge, stating, “I am 21, father of two… I’m not saying I’m the best dad but I do the best I can.” He cried while explaining he has to lie to his son about where he is daily because “I don’t want him to think the place I’m in is cool.”
McAllister then pleaded for release so he could help support his girlfriend and young children. He informed the court of a job he had acquired while in jail, requesting GPS monitoring so he could work. As an alternative, McAllister requested 24-hour home confinement as it would allow him to spend time with his two children.
McAllister also requested a new attorney, claiming Sapirstein never visited him and does not respond to his weekly calls. “This is my first time seeing her,” he told the court.
Judge Salerno responded “you had kids then, just like you do now,” referencing McAllister’s last gun offense from 2024. The judge added that he feels the defendant is “getting the message that there are no consequences for his actions,” ordering to hold the defendant.
In regards to the request for a new attorney, the judge informed him that this will delay the turning over of evidence process and suggested he should try to meet with Sapirstein one more time. Sapirstein claimed she would visit him at the jail next week to go over the body-camera footage she had just received from the prosecution.
Parties are slated to reconvene Aug. 11.
