Defendant Picks Up New Case in Connection with 2019 Incident

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A defendant was not present at his status hearing because he was re-arrested for an alleged offense that happened in 2019.

Kenneth O’Neal, 30, is charged with distribution of fentanyl and possession of cocaine. He was arrested after allegedly selling fentanyl to an undercover Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer on July 2, 2019, on the 1200 block of Simms Place, NE. During his arrest, officers allegedly found 2.38 grams of cocaine.

The Sept. 11 hearing was scheduled so that O’Neal could enter a plea. However, that same day, he was being arraigned in a new case for theft.

Defense attorney Charles Wall told DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt that his client was being held for his initial hearing for the new charge. However, the prosecution said they would not be seeking to hold the defendant on his new charge.

Judge Brandt scheduled a new hearing for Sept. 29 to allow time for Wall to meet with his client. The prosecutor said he would look into a new plea deal to resolve the new charge O’Neal is facing.

In his new case, O’Neal is charged with second-degree theft. He allegedly stole money from Five Below, a specialty discount store, as an employee, over the course of two months last year.

Judge Brandt contacted the judge presiding over O’Neal’s new case to clarify the situation.