9 Domestic Violence and Sex Abuse Cases Presented During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 2, 2021
Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

During arraignments on March 1, DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann presided over 34 defendants.

Of the cases, nine of them were either domestic violence related or included sexual abuse charges.

The judge held five defendants.

Judge Herrmann held a defendant  who is charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse, threatening to kidnap or injure a person and assault with a dangerous weapon.

The defendant, a 31-year-old male, threatened to rape a woman after pushing her down on the bed and covering her face with a pillow. The defendant also threatened to kill the victim with a gun and burn their house down. 

When officers responded to the house, the defendant allegedly assaulted them with a knife. Through the encounter, two officers discharged their guns, and one of the bullets hit the defendant in the arm.

Defense counsel requested the defendant’s release, saying he appeared to be having a breakdown and was not in his right mind. Per the police report, the victim thinks the defendant was on some sort of drug.

The judge decided to hold the defendant, however, citing his attempts to keep the victim from contacting the police and his alleged assault on officers when they arrived in addition to the assault on the victim herself.

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for March 22.

Judge Herrmann held a defendant who is charged with violating a Civil Protection Order (CPO), simple assault and destruction of property. Defense counsel requested the defendant’s release, but the judge decided to hold him, citing two domestic violence cases that involve the same complaining witness for which he is on probation. The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for March 16.

The judge held a defendant charged with unlawful entry onto private property and destruction of property. The defendant is also on probation for three domestic violence cases which all involve the same complaining witnesses. 

Judge Herrmann cited the probation cases in her hold decision, noting that two of the cases involved assaultive conduct and the other involved contempt. Additionally, the defendant violated a stay-away order when allegedly committing this new offense. 

The defendant will be held until his next hearing, which is on March 16.

A defendant charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm and contempt was also held pending his next hearing. The defendant has a pending case for which he is charged with parental kidnapping. In his new case, the defendant allegedly violated a stay-away order.

Judge Herrmann decided to hold the defendant because of his underlying case as well as the fact that the defendant allegedly threatened to assault the victim and take the children. 

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for March 16.

Judge Herrmann also held a defendant who is charged with a CPO violation and destruction of property.

The defendant is on probation for contempt in another domestic violence case involving the same victim.

The judge said she could not ensure the safety of the victim, so she chose to hold him at the jail until his next hearing, which is scheduled for March 16.

The judge released four additional defendants that have charges involving second-degree theft, destruction of property, unlawful entry, simple assault, attempted second-degree cruelty to children, attempted threats to do bodily harm and sex abuse.

The defendants were ordered to return to court on Aug. 2 and were given stay-away orders except for one defendant who was given an order not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the complaining witness. 

A domestic violence defendant, who was scheduled for an initial hearing was still in the hospital, so the judge moved their presentment to March 2.