Defendant Denied Pretrial Release in Burglary, Sex Abuse Case

By Jay McDonald [former] , Rebecca Silverman [former] - March 11, 2022
Burglary | Daily Stories | Documents | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge denied a request to release a defendant accused of breaking into a woman’s Pleasant Plains apartment and sexually assaulting her friend.

The 31-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree burglary and second-degree sexual abuse. The victim alleges that, in January, she saw the defendant in an elevator as she made her way to the apartment and was later awoken by him sexually assaulting her. The defendant was arrested shortly after. 

During the most recent hearing for this case on March 8, the defendant chose to address the court.

“I have learned from my mistakes when I was 18 and the charge I got at 21,” he said. “I work for UPS and they will continue to hold my position for up to a year. I always kept an honest job. I am a pillar in the community. A mentor. I am not a bad person.” 

Defense attorney Winston Yallery-Arthur asked Judge Maribeth Raffinan to release his client from DC Jail.

“The defendant’s mother and father are in the courts and this process has been very traumatic for both them and my client,” he said. “We are looking for release so he can continue to work and take care of his people. He will abide by all rules if he is placed on GPS monitoring.”

The prosecution opposed this request, citing the defendant’s criminal history and the violent nature of the alleged crime. 

“He committed a crime while being released for another,” the prosecutor said. “This was a violent crime, where he and students attacked a transgender student.”

Based on the charges in the case and the defendant’s prior history, she denied the request for release. 

Yallery-Arthur requested a two-week continuance so parties can continue discussing the plea offer that has been extended in this case. Judge Raffinan scheduled parties to reconvene on March 21.