Judge Holds Sex Abuse Defendant and Releases 6 Defendants Charged in Domestic Violence Cases

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DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann presided over the April 14 initial hearings, where she decided to hold a sex abuse defendant and release six domestic violence defendants.

Four of the domestic violence defendants have charges that include violation of a Temporary Protection Order (TPO), violation of a Civil Protection Order (CPO), simple assault, possession and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon and attempted threats to do bodily harm.

Each of these defendants was released on personal recognizance under the supervision of the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) and given a stay-away order. One defendant was also ordered not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the victim in their probation case.

All four have status hearings scheduled for Oct. 20.

Two domestic violence defendants were brought in on bench warrants for failing to appear at their hearings. Both were released and one of the defendants is scheduled to return to court on April 21 while the other is scheduled to return on Aug. 9.

Judge Herrmann decided to hold the defendant who is charged with first-degree sex abuse. “I find the evidence in the warrant to be quite strong,” she said.

She said she is not concerned about the defendant failing to show at his next hearing, but she is concerned about the safety of the community. 

The defendant has a status hearing scheduled for Oct. 26.

Sasha Ridenour wrote this article.