Judge Denies Release for Domestic Violence Defendant

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 2, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge denied a request to release a domestic violence defendant as he awaits trial.

The defendant is charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon in a domestic violence case that he picked up towards the end of last October. Back in February, he also picked up a misdemeanor second-degree theft charge. He is now being held at DC Jail in both cases.

During the Feb. 2 hearing, defense attorney Quiana Harris indicated that she wants to move the domestic violence matter towards trial. Judge John Campbell said they could not set trial dates as of now.

With that in mind, Harris asked the judge to release her client into home confinement. She pointed out that the defendant has medical issues that could put him at a higher risk if he catches the coronavirus. She said that the defendant’s medical concerns do not appear to have been addressed since the last time she raised the issue.

The prosecution opposed release, pointing out that he was on GPS monitoring at the time of the more recent alleged offense.

Judge Campbell denied the defense’s request, but told Harris that she could file a motion for reconsideration with the calendar judge. The judge scheduled the next hearing, a status conference, for May 5.

A hearing for the misdemeanor case is scheduled for Feb. 24.