Judge Holds Domestic Violence Defendant with Multiple Cases Involving the Same Victim

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 7, 2021
Featured | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During initial hearings on May 6, a DC Superior Court Judge held a domestic violence defendant with multiple cases.

There were 25 defendants presented before the court, five involved domestic violence and two  invovled sexual assault.

Judge Sean Staples held a defendant who is charged with simple assault, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon and attempted threats to do bodily harm. The defendant was also brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear at his hearing in another domestic violence case. In his second case, he is charged with simple assault and contempt.

The defendant also has an additional pending domestic violence case, and Judge Staples decided to hold the defendant because all of his cases involve the same complaining witness. Defense counsel requested GPS monitoring, but Judge Staples said he had been placed on that before and failed to comply. 

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for May 25.

Two defendants were brought in on bench warrants alone for failing to appear at their hearings. One of the defendants has three pending domestic violence cases, and the other is convicted of attempted third-degree sex abuse.

Both defendants were released and given new court dates of May 10 and May 12, respectively.

Three additional domestic violence defendants were presented before the court with charges of attempted second-degree cruelty to children, attempted threats to do bodily harm, simple assault and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon.

All three defendants were given stay-away orders from the alleged victims and were ordered to return to court on Nov. 10.

The final defendant is charged with first-degree child sex abuse. The prosecution did not request a hold, but asked the judge to order him to stay away from the alleged victim.

Judge Staples granted the stay-away request and released the defendant under the supervision of the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA).

He will also return to court on Nov. 10.