Judge Finds Probable Cause in Domestic Violence Case, Holds Defendant

By Mara Osterburg [former] - July 16, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Domestic Violence | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a domestic violence case has enough evidence to go to trial.

The defendant is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in connection with a June 7 incident in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Southeast, DC. 

The prosecution alleges that the defendant held a rifle up to the victim and said, “I’m going to blow this b**** away.” The victim’s relative then stood between the gun and the victim and called the police once the defendant walked away, according to a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sergeant who testified during the July 15 preliminary hearing.

The prosecution showed surveillance footage that captured portions of the incident, which shows the victim’s relative at the scene. However, the sergeant testified that the victim said her relative was not on scene and did not see what happened. 

Defense attorney Sara Kopecki called another one of the victim’s relatives to the witness stand. This witness testified that he never saw the defendant with a firearm and that he never heard him threaten the victim. However, the prosecution presented Body Worn Camera footage from responding MPD officers, which shows him saying that he did hear the defendant making threats.

The prosecution wanted the defendant to be held at DC Jail. They argued he is a serious threat to the victim as well as the relative who reportedly intervened to try and protect her. According to the sergeant, this relative said the victim told her to “change her story” to protect themselves.

The prosecution also argued that the defendant is a flight risk due to his failure to appear in court in previous cases.

Kopecki, however, wanted her client released into the High Intensity Supervision Program with GPS monitoring, a no Harassment, Assault, Threaten or Stalk order from the victim and a stay away order from the grandmother.

Judge Sherry Trafford decided to hold him at DC Jail.

The next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23.