A DC Superior Court judge released a defendant charged with threat to kidnap and injure.
DeAngelo Washington’s probation officer said that the defendant violated his probation after receiving his sentence on July 9, 2019, and failed to report to drug testing prior to it becoming unavailable during the pandemic. He also has not been in contact by phone with pretrial services for about four months.
Defense attorney Isaac Kunnirickal explained that the phone his client registered with the court, which belonged to Washington’s mother, broke and could not have been fixed easily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kunnirickal also said that Washington’s GPS tracking device somehow remained active throughout the period during when pretrial services could not reach him by phone, showing he probably had no intention to flee.
Judge Robert Okun sided with the defense and released the defendant so he could continue with his probation.
Washington’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 11.
