Judge Issues Bench Warrants for 2 Defendants

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 21, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Probation | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge issued two bench warrants for defendants who failed to appear at their July 21 hearings.

Athena Powell-Bey is charged with simple assault for allegedly spitting on and hitting an employee on the 300 block of 7th Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2019.

Defense attorney Peter Odom said he has been unable to contact the homeless defendant by email or phone since March 6.

Odom opposed a bench warrant, saying he would not like to see his client, who has mental health issues, arrested.

Judge Danya Dayson understood Odom’s concern, but did not think there was any other way to get in contact with the defendant.

Anthony Wall pleaded guilty to second-degree theft for stealing food from a Whole Foods Market on the 600 block of H Street, NE on Oct. 26.

An officer from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) said the defendant failed to seek and accept psychiatric treatment, as required by his probation. 

Wall has not contacted CSOSA since July 8, even though he is supposed to call twice a week.

Defense attorney Chantal Jean-Baptiste opposed the bench warrant since she was unable to contact her client to inform him of the hearing. She said she only had a few days to try and reach the defendant because it was an emergency hearing.