Judge Holds 3 Defendants During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 25, 2020
Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

During initial hearings on Sept. 24, DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell released 32 defendants, postponed four initial hearings and held three defendants in DC Jail.

One defendant is being held for a domestic violence case with an underlying charge of simple assault. The judge said the defendant should be held due to the nature of the case and the violation of a recently implemented stay-away order.

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 13.

Another defendant is a fugitive from the state of Maryland with an underlying charge of burglary. The defendant was deemed a loss of contact and is being held in order for Maryland officials to pick him up.

A third defendant is also a fugitive in the state of Maryland. The defendant is also charged with misdemeanor sexual abuse in DC. He is being held due to his lengthy criminal history and the fact that many of his previous cases involved minors. In his fugitive case, he is being held in order for Maryland officials to pick him up.  

Four initial hearings were postponed due to the defendants currently being in the hospital. The defendants’ cases will be reviewed on Sept. 25.

Eight other defendants were charged in domestic violence cases. The underlying charges included simple assault, threats to do bodily harm, second-degree theft, hate crime and contempt. Six were released with stay-away orders and two were released with a no harassing, assaulting, threatening or stalking (HATS) order toward the alleged victims.  

Three other defendants with fugitivity charges were also heard by Judge Crowell. One defendant is wanted in Maryland for a robbery charge. Another defendant is wanted in Florida for a burglary charge and the third is wanted in Virginia for failing to register as a sex offender and for being in possession of drug paraphernalia. All were released with orders to turn themselves in to the demanding jurisdictions as soon as possible.

Ten defendants with felony charges were also released. Charges included distribution and production of fentanyl, unlawful possession of weapons with a prior conviction, unlawful possession of ammunition, second-degree burglary, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, carrying a firearm without a license and having an unregistered firearm.

Finally, eight defendants with misdemeanor charges were released. The charges included possession of heroin, threats against a government official, destruction of property less than $1,000, sexual abuse and theft.