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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- December 9, 2020
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a status hearing for a defendant charged with first-degree sex abuse.
The 18-year-old defendant allegedly forcibly raped a 10-year-old victim in an apartment building located on the 3600 block of Hayes Street, NE on May 27.
The defendant is currently being held at the New Beginnings Youth Development Center. However, defense attorney Pierce Suen said that his clients commitment at New Beginnings will end on Jan. 8.
The defense is attempting to get the defendant accepted into the Wayne Housing Program, which will provide shelter and transition to adulthood services. This will allow him to continue with school and work at a part-time level.
However, Judge Juliet McKenna isn’t prepared to release the defendant based on the circumstances.
“I am frankly concerned about the lack of structure and monitoring from these programs,” said Judge McKenna. “Because this is a case with a very young complainant, I would be very concerned to release him into Wayne place.”
The prosecution also said the defendant should be held at a secure facility rather than a transitional program.
Suen asked Judge McKenna for more time to make a formalized plan and submit it to the court. Judge McKenna scheduled the defendants next court hearing for Dec. 30.