Armed Carjacking Defendant Denied Release, Waives Right to Preliminary Hearing

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Antonio Kent requested pre-trial release but was returned to DC Jail by DC Superior Court Judge Robert Hildum on March 3 after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Kent, 19, is charged with armed carjacking for his alleged involvement in an incident on Sept. 1, 2024, on the 5500 block of Jay Street, NE.

According to court documents, the victim told police three men threatened him with a gun and demanded his car keys. Arrest documents state that police recovered a gun Kent allegedly tossed in a storm drain while fleeing.

Kent’s attorney, Alvin Thomas, Jr., alerted Judge Hildum of Kent’s intent to waive his right to a preliminary hearing, and asked Judge Hildum to allow Kent to return home with GPS monitoring until his trial. Thomas noted Kent has no prior criminal history and release has been granted to his two co-defendants, Darryl Butler, 19, and Julan Byrd, 17.

“He, who lives in Maryland, came over here to victimize someone who was just washing his car,” said the prosecutor, arguing Kent should remain in jail.

An official from the DC Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) told the court Kent isn’t eligible for release because he has an extraditable warrant from a county in Maryland. That court is requiring DC to detain Kent until he can be transferred to their jurisdiction.

The next hearing in this case is set for March 18.