Judge Denies Request to Release Murder Defendant From Central Treatment Facility

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 7, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A murder defendant was denied release from the Central Treatment Facility.

According to court documents, 22-year-old Joseph Simmons sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his back when he was across the street from an elementary school on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE, on Jan 3. Rashon Hall is charged with first-degree murder while armed in Simmons’ death.

The 26-year-old defendant is being held at the Department of Corrections’ (DOC) Central Treatment Facility and is awaiting indictment. 

Defense attorney Dana Page filed an emergency release motion based on conditions of confinement in November, but Judge Danya Dayson denied it. During the Dec. 7 hearing, she renewed her request for Hall’s release.

Page previously told the court that her client informed her of mold growing in his cell. On Dec. 7, a representative for the DOC said after he requested an inspection of Hall’s cell mold was found.

Hall has since been moved to a different cell.

Page argued Hall should still be released. She said she does not have confidence in the DOC’s ability to care for her client’s medical needs, including when it comes to getting him his pain medication.  She said in a previous hearing that he was not receiving his daily medication. While Page says he did receive the medication again, she raised doubts over if the DOC could be relied on to consistently give him the medication going forward.

Still, Judge Dayson was unwilling to release Hall.

Instead, he will remain in the facility to await his next hearing on Feb. 25.