DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz issued a bench warrant on July 24 to arrest a domestic stabbing defendant who allegedly violated his probation and failed to appear in court.
Gabriel Esquina, 23, is on probation for aggravated assault knowingly for the non-fatal stabbing of his father on the 2800 block of Myrtle Avenue, NE on Jan. 26, 2022. The victim sustained a stab wound to his abdomen.
According to court documents, the incident began as an argument and Esquina’s father was hospitalized twice due to his life-threatening injuries.
Esquina’s Community Supervision Officer (CSO) from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), said she has not heard from him since May 26 and that he had not appeared for mandated meetings.
A bench warrant is a court order for law enforcement to arrest an individual and bring them before a judge.
Esquina pleaded guilty in May 2022 and was sentenced in September 2022. He served four out of the five years in prison he was initially sentenced to, and is now completing a year of probation.
As part of his probation conditions, Esquina was ordered to complete community service, anger management classes, and mental health treatment.
Esquina was also originally ordered to stay away from his family, though Judge Kravitz modified those conditions in March. The judge ruled that Esquina could maintain contact with his parents, per their wishes.
The parties are scheduled to reconvene when US Marshals execute the warrant.
