Judge Agrees to Keep Defendant at St. E’s Hospital

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 1, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

On June 29, a DC Superior Court judge reluctantly agreed not to transfer a defendant from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital to DC jail.

Antwann Johnson is charged with robbery while armed for allegedly assaulting an elderly woman at a beauty supply store on the 100 block of L Street, SE on Jan. 8. According to court documents, Johnson stole $200 from the store, took a credit card processing machine and destroyed the surveillance monitor.

Judge Michael Ryan reviewed court documents and found that Johnson was competent to stand trial and there is no further basis for him to be at the psychiatric hospital.

However, defense counsel argued that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the defense has not been able to do their own evaluations and observations.

Defense counsel told the judge that, since the prosecution has only done evaluations, the defense would like to conduct their own exam in a hospital setting, rather than at the DC Jail.

Judge Ryan was very reluctant to keep the defendant at St. Elizabeth’s, but granted the defense’s request. The defense has one month to perform all evaluations.

A hearing is scheduled for July 29 to determine whether the defendant will stay at St. Elizabeth’s, get transferred to the DC Jail or be released.

The defendant was also convicted of burglary and attempted burglary in 2019.