Defendant Given 30 Days to Come into Compliance

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 24, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Probation | Suspects |

On July 24, a defendant was given 30 more days to come into compliance with the conditions of his probation. 

Aaron Williams pleaded guilty in December 2018 to simple assault. He was sentenced the following March to 60 days and one year of probation.

Even though the hearing was continued, Williams will have to maintain weekly drug testing and GPS monitoring. “Either you’re going to do this or you’re not,” DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dason said. “It’s up to you.”

During the July 24 proceedings, a representative with the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) said Williams was unable to complete two of his stays at the Re-Entry and Sanctions Center (RSC), a treatment facility for offenders with substance use disorders. She said this behavior is typical for Williams because he has struggled to complete other, similar programs.

The representative said Williams has allowed the battery for his GPS device to die. He has been accused of submitting a false sample for a routine drug test, among other violations.

Both the CSOSA representative and the prosecution requested that Judge Dayson revoke Williams’ probation.

“He doesn’t appear to take supervision seriously,” the representative said.

John Harvey, Williams’ attorney, asked that the matter instead be continued to allow his client more time to come into compliance. Harvey cited the extraordinary constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that Williams’ second failure to complete treatment at the RSC was due to fears of contracting the virus. The attorney said he is nor sure the Williams’ failure  to charge his GPS was intentional. 

He also said that while the representative implied that his client has been a loss of contact since July 1, he reported in person to have his GPS device taken off on July 8 after it was deactivated.

Harvey said his client, if given one more opportunity, would have sufficient motivation in coming into compliance, since any further violation would result in detention and would put him at a higher risk of possibly contracting coronavirus. 

Williams is scheduled to return to court to assess his compliance on Aug. 26.