Judge Releases Domestic Violence Defendant

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A DC Superior Court judge released a domestic violence defendant. 

The defendant was charged with unlawful entry, second-degree theft, and simple assault on April 22 in a domestic violence case. 

The Aug. 5 hearing was scheduled to address a noncompliance issue with the terms of his probation.

The prosecution said the defendant violated a stay away order by visiting his girlfriend, who was the victim. She asked that the stay away order change to a no harassment, assault, threatening and stalking (HATS) order.

Judge John McCabe granted the request.

The defendant’s probation officer also said he failed to report to drug testing in July. Judge McCabe responded that he would be giving the defendant more time to come into compliance.

Defense attorney Lisbeth Sapirstein asked that her client be taken off the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) in an unrelated misdemeanor case, as he has not violated his release conditions.

“Please get this thing off of my leg,” the defendant said.

Judge McCabe said the defense would have to make a request to the judge presiding over that case.

In 2019, the defendant was sentenced to 180 days for simple assault and 90 days for destruction of property less than $1,000 in a domestic violence case, according to DC Courts. Both sentences were suspended in their entirety. He also received 12 months of probation.