Defendant Found Compliant with Pretrial Release

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 31, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court Judge determined that a defendant was in compliance with his pretrial release conditions.

Deare Benny, 32, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found a firearm among his belongings on June 12. Police say Benny fled after they approached him for suspicion of operating a prohibited vehicle in a public space on the 2500 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. After the defendant was stopped, officers found a firearm in a fanny pack that he had discarded during the chase.

Benny was released on June 31. However, he failed to get in touch with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA.)

Benny’s attorney, Charles Murdter, said the defendant’s lack of contact has since been addressed. Murdter told Judge Julie Becker that he initially received an incorrect number for his client, but after getting in touch with him, Benny contacted the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA.)

Benny did not show up to the July 31 hearing, but Murdter said this was due to his own miscommunication with his client.

He said Benny is currently in Tennessee with his family because their conversation had led him to believe that his presence in court was not necessary.

In addition to continuing the pretrial show cause hearing, Judge Becker also told Murdter to compel his client to take care of an outstanding warrant from Prince George County, Md. The warrant is in relation to a first-degree assault charge from June 10. 

Benny’s next court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25.