Judge Holds 5 and Releases 20 During Initial Hearings

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

On Oct. 24, DC Superior Court Judge Sean Staples released 20 and held five defendants in DC Jail during initial hearings.

Anthony Jones, 23, is being charged with second-degree murder while armed. Jones is charged with shooting and killing 29-year-old Cimerron Kennedy on the 3500 block of Jay Street, NE. On Sept. 21, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to a report of a shooting. When MPD arrived on the scene, Kennedy was unconscious and not breathing. After compiling evidence that consisted of surveillance footage, still images and the alleged identification of Jones, the MPD arrested Jones on Oct. 23.

Jones’ attorney, Jason Tulley, argued that because the suspect is seen wearing shoulder-length dreads in the surveillance footage and Jones’ dreads are past his shoulders. He also noted that the two officers who identified Jones as being the alleged suspect were initially unsure of their identification of him.

“This case is paper-thin. ,” Tulley said, referring to the initial police affidavit as a “joke.”

The judge denied his request to dismiss the probable cause allegations and decided to hold Jones until his next court date on Nov. 12.

Roderick Chew, 31, was arrested on Oct. 23 for unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. According to court documents, while members of the MPD were conducting an observation on the 4000 block of Edson Place, NE, they allegedly observed what appeared to be a hand-to-hand drug transaction between Chew and another person.

Officers attempted to stop Chew after he returned to his car, but he drove away, fleeing the officers. A first-responder allegedly saw Chew throw a gun out the window as he was driving away.

After officers stopped Chew’s vehicle, he was positively identified by the members of the MPD and the first-responder as the suspect. Chew was then placed under arrest for possessing a firearm with a previous conviction.

Judge Staples denied the motion to release the defendant and decided to hold Chew due to his previous criminal activity.

A defendant, 56, is being held for contempt and a misdemeanor for sexual abuse allegations. The prosecution requested that the defendant be held and requested a stay-away order from the victim. This is the defendant’s second charge against the same victim, and he has been non-compliant with his pretrial conditions in the past.

“Things appear to be escalating, and given the fact that he is unlikely to comply with pretrial conditions, he will be held,”  said Judge Staples.

There were two defendants who were being transferred to the District Court and had mandatory holds. Both defendants have dates to return to court on Oct. 26.  

Initially, there were two more defendants that the judge considered holding during the court hearings, but the motion to hold them was denied due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of those released, four defendants are charged in domestic violence cases. The charges included simple assault, unlawful possession of ammunition, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, and theft and destruction of property worth less than $1,000. All defendants were released with stay-away orders from the alleged victims.

Two of the three defendants being charged with felonies who were released are also charged with carrying a pistol outside a home or business. They were ordered not to possess any unlawful  firearms in DC. The other defendant is charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer.

Judge Staples also released nine defendants being charged with misdemeanors. All nine of the defendants were given stay-away orders from places and the alleged victims. The defendants were also ordered to report to Pretrial Services (PSA) once a week as part of their release conditions.  

Two defendants, charged with being fugitives from justice, were released and ordered to turn themselves in to the demanding jurisdiction.  

Among those released was a defendant charged with drinking while operating a vehicle and another defendant who was charged with failing to appear in court. Both defendants were released under PSA supervision.

Two defendants, charged with being fugitives from justice, were in the hospital and had their hearings moved to Oct. 26.

Emily Pengelly wrote this article.