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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- November 4, 2020
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Homicides
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On Nov. 4, DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann released 13 defendants and held three defendants in DC Jail.
Judge Herrmann released two defendants, Antonio Turner and Ta’Jeanna Eason, who are charged with first-degree murder and first-degree cruelty to children for their alleged involvement in the death of 2-year-old Gabriel Eason.
According to the prosecution, both defendants allegedly abused the 2 year-old as well as two other minor children, who are 11 and 3 years-old.
The Gabriel died on April 1 after sustaining significant injuries believed to be from the beatings.
Though Judge Herrmann acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, she decided to release both defendants with orders to stay away from the other two minor children as well as all children under the age of 18, saying she did not believe they are a danger to the community.
Judge Hermann decided to hold two defendants who are charged with being fugitives from justice.
Troy Rawlings and a juvenile male are both wanted in Maryland for homicide. Given the serious allegations, Judge Herrmann said she was not inclined to release either defendant. Given this, both Rawlings and the juvenile waived their extradition hearings in DC to be held in jail for three business days in order to allow Maryland authorities to retrieve them.
Judge Hermann also decided to hold Quaishie Wise, who is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly swinging a baseball bat at a victim. The 32-year-old defendant is also charged with being a fugitive from justice in the state of Virginia.
The judge made his decision after considering Wise’s criminal history and the nature of the alleged assault. Wise is scheduled for another hearing on Nov. 23.
Of those who were released, two defendants were charged in domestic violence cases. One was released with a stay away order, and the other was released with an order not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the victim.
Judge Herrmann released three defendants charged as fugitives. The defendants are wanted in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina for various charges, and Judge Herrmann released them with orders to turn themselves in to the demanding jurisdictions.
Four defendants charged with misdemeanors were also released. The charges include contempt, unlawful entry onto private property, threats to do bodily harm, destruction of property, resisting arrest and lewd, indecent or obscene acts. Two of the defendants were released with stay away orders, and the other two were ordered to report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA).
Two defendants, charged with carrying a pistol without a license, were released with orders not to possess any firearms or ammunition. One was also placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with GPS monitoring.
Two final defendants are in the hospital, so their hearings were moved to Nov. 5.