DC Superior Court Judge Anthony C. Epstein set an arraignment date for alleged murder suspect Alvin Alexis Cruz-Garcia.
Cruz-Garcia is charged with the second-degree murder of 38-year-old Ramon Gomez-Yanez on March 23, 2021, on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW.
The Jan. 27 hearing was pushed back an hour due to issues at the court with having a court-appointed Spanish-English translator.
Defense attorney Kevann A. Gardner had a private translator from his office, yet the prosecutor questioned the regulations regarding private translators and suggested the court wait for the court official.
The indictment deadline is coming up in March 2023.
The prosecutor explained to Judge Epstein that she attempted to negotiate a pre-indictment plea after new fingerprint evidence was handed over to the defense. She said the defense did not reply to the offer.
The original charge brought by the prosecution was second-degree murder, however, the official charges will be pending the review of a Grand Jury indictment.
Judge Epstein set the next hearing date for March 10.
