The suspect in a domestic stabbing case was released following a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno on April 27 who chided the prosecution for missing the indictment deadline as new details of the incident emerged.
Forty-seven-year old Carlos Blount is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant bodily injury for a stabbing that occurred on the 2000 block of Benning Road, NE on July 31.
According to court documents, the female victim was allegedly accosted on the street by Blount after she ended their brief relationship. He reportedly tried to grab her cell phone and her purse and in the ensuing struggle both fell to the ground.
During the assault Blount is said to have stabbed the victim on the back and lower legs with a silver and black pocket knife. After her cries for help, police responded to the scene and the victim was transported to Howard University Hospital for treatment where she was shown an “on scene” photo of Blount whom she identified as her assailant.
The information enabled police to issue a warrant and apprehend Blount who has two outstanding warrants on other cases.
During the hearing, the prosecution asked to continue the case because it wasn’t ready but meanwhile keep Blount in jail. The reason for the request is that the prosecution has new information that could establish an alibi for Blount which needs to be presented to the Grand Jury before issuing an indictment.
Prosecutors asked for an additional 45 days to examine records from Howard Hospital and the defense that may indicate Blount was admitted the day before the incident.
”Based on what I’ve heard, the government isn’t going to be ready in 45 days,” said a skeptical Judge Salerno.
He also chided the prosecution for failing to meet the indictment deadline. “It’s not just a 100 day case that’s been pending for 8-and-a-half- months and there’s still no indictment,” said the judge.
“We do have a pretty significant change of circumstances.” said Judge Salerno, ruling that he couldn’t justify keeping Blount in jail. He ordered the defendant released on GPS monitoring with a stay-away order from the victim, the incident location, and that he have no weapons of any kind.
Defense attorney Gail Maddox-Levine mentioned the possibility of a global plea but no further details were provided.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 15.
