D.C. Witness

Sex Abuse Defendant Claims Negligent Treatment in Virginia Jail

By Alayna Stein - March 30, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault |

Details During a March 27 status hearing, a defendant complained about his treatment at a jail in Northern Neck, VA. The 44-year-old defendant is charged with multiple counts, including first-degree burglary... Read More

Judge Finds Probable Cause for Three of Four Charges in a Sexual Abuse Case

By Adriana Marroquin - March 29, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault |

Details On March 28, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt found probable cause for three of four charges against a defendant accused of sexual assault. The defendant was charged with first-degree sexual... Read More

Sex Abuse Trial Gets Pushed Back Due to Defense Attorney’s Surgery Recovery

By Caroline Sagristano , Marta Fernandez - March 27, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault |

Details On March 24, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun set a new trial date for a sex abuse case to accommodate a defense attorney’s recovery from surgery. The defendant is... Read More

Defendant Pleads Guilty to All Counts in Sexual Abuse Case

By Marta Fernandez , Caroline Sagristano - March 27, 2023
Daily Stories | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault | Suspects |

Details On March 24, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun accepted a guilty plea in a case of attempted rape and robbery. Michael Hartley, 32, was originally charged with two counts... Read More

Defendant Gives Final Goodbye to Family After Being Found Guilty

Details During a preliminary on March 22, the defendant in a sexual assault case waved goodbye to family members after accepting a guilty plea agreement. Wilson Rodriguez, 24, is charged with... Read More

Defense Intends to Accept Plea Offer

By Mariam Kamate - March 24, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault |

Details A plea deal that was once rejected is being negotiated again by a defendant involved in a sexual abuse case. The 52-year-old defendant was indicted on four counts of first-degree... Read More

Judge Continues Sentencing in Sexual Abuse Case

Details DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee postponed sentencing on March 23 for a sexual assault case. Darius Newkirk, 25, accepted a plea offer on Dec. 21, 2022, for attempted third-degree... Read More

Judge Criticizes Police Policy in Sexual Assault

Details DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt criticized the thoroughness of a Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) investigation of a sexual assault case during a March 22 preliminary hearing. “A man’s liberty... Read More

Defendant in Armed Rape Case Pleads Guitly in Exchange for 18-Year Sentence

Details DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan accepted a guilty plea in a rape case dating back to March of 2018. In return for the agreement 22-year old Troy Ashley will... Read More

Judges Sentence Defendant to Two Consecutive Life Sentences in 2 Sexual Abuse Cases

Details Two DC Superior Court judges sentenced a defendant to two life sentences without the possibility of release for two separate sexual abuse cases. A jury found Ronald Berton guilty of... Read More

Judge Sentences Defendant on New Charges, Allowing Him to Start Nonprofit for Children in Community

Details At a sentencing on March 17, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee let Verazzano Porter plead to a lesser offense in order to create a nonprofit organization that would teach... Read More

Defense Requests to Keep Defendant in Community for His Mental Health During Sentencing

Details During a sentencing hearing on March 17, the defense requested DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee not imprison a defendant for a sex abuse charge to protect his mental health... Read More