Case Acquitted: Defendant Accused of Stabbing Man Rejects Plea Deal

By Chloe Wayne [former] - June 15, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

This case was acquitted on Dec. 16, 2022.

A defendant accused of stabbing a man to death in 2020 rejected a plea deal. 

On Jan. 5, 2020, Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to reports of an assault taking place on the 1200 block of U Street, NW and found 22-year-old Dy’Mani Priestly suffering from a puncture wound to the chest. D.C. Fire and Emergency Services quickly transported Priestly to Howard University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Reginald W. Hooks Jr., 37, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to Priestly’s death.

“Mr. Hooks will not be accepting a plea offer at this time,” Defense Attorney Bernadette Armand stated during the June 14 hearing. 

If Hooks had accepted the plea deal, the murder charge would have been reduced to manslaughter, and he would have also been charged with carrying a dangerous weapon. Hooks would have faced a sentence ranging of six to 12 years in prison. 

Prosecutors have conducted DNA testing from blood collected at the crime scene. Hooks waived his right to test DNA at a lab of his choosing. 

“I told my lawyer that I was fine with the testing that the government has,” Hooks said. 

Armand said that she intends on filing a motion to suppress statements, in relation to evidence collected from Hooks’ phone. Yet, the prosecution said evidence from the defendant’s phone would not be used during trial. 

Additionally, Armand requested notice from the prosecution if jail calls are used as evidence.

“If you do identify them (the phone calls), please let the defense know,” DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan told prosecutors. 

The trial is set to take place on Nov. 8. 

Hooks is scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 23.