Judge Grants Continuation of Hearing After Defendant Fails to Appear

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On June 23, DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann granted defense counsel more time to get in contact with a defendant before issuing a bench warrant.

Wendell Poole was charged with distributing cocaine and released pending trial on March 18.

Poole’s defense attorney, Dan Harn, said it is very difficult to contact his client because he does not currently have a working phone number.

Poole has also not been in contact with the Pretrial Services Agency, but he has remained in contact with his probation officer.

Harn said he was not aware that the defendant was in contact with the officer until it was mentioned during the hearing.

Harn said Poole may not have appeared because he is awaiting transitional housing and has displayed no indication of disobeying his stay away order from co-defendant Devine Norman. Harn requested that the hearing be continued so he can have more time to contact Poole.

Judge Herrmann continued the hearing until July 9. She said that if Poole once again fails to be present, a warrant would be issued for his arrest.