Domestic Homicide Defendant Taken Off Home Confinement as He Awaits Indictment

By Jay McDonald [former] - February 15, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A defendant charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of his child’s mother was taken off home confinement. 

On Dec. 30, 2020, 55-year-old Samuel Mack allegedly shot 35-year-old Erica Ward in an apartment on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE. According to court documents, the two used to be in a relationship and began arguing that night after Mack brought their son over to visit. Mack was apprehended that same night. He was released into home confinement under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) the following March.

Almost one year after his release, Mack remained on home confinement as he continued to await indictment. During a Feb. 14 hearing, parties discussed defense attorney Joseph Wong‘s recent motion to modify his client’s release conditions. In the motion, Wong pointed out that if Mack is taken off home confinement, he could still be subject to a GPS monitoring requirement and a 10:00 P.M. to 6:00 a.m. curfew.

Judge Robert D. Okun granted the defense’s motion. 

The prosecution acknowledged the lack of an indictment in this case, noting that they usually put more focus on cases in which defendants are detained. They said they are trying to indict all detained cases from 2019 and 2020 first.

“We would like to ask for 60 days as we expect an indictment,” the prosecutor said.

A felony status conference is set for April 21, at which time the judge is expected to check on the status of the indictment.