Defendant Pleads Not Guilty in Non-Fatal Shooting

By Rebecca Connor [former] , Sylvie Sussman [former] - May 27, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

Diandre Caesar, 29, was arraigned on gun charges in a May 26 hearing for allegedly assaulting an individual following an altercation.

Caesar entered a not guilty plea for three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of second-degree cruelty to children, one count of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition in an incident on June 28, 2022 on the 2200 block of New York Avenue, NE.

According to court documents, the incident began as an argument between the defendant and an individual who had his family with them, before being shot at by Caesar with a pistol.  

Caesar is on release awaiting further proceedings on the condition he participates in a High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP), gets drug testing and GPS monitoring. 

Joseph Fay, Caesar’s defense attorney, requested that his release conditions be altered during the period between the arraignment and the trial on the basis of the defendant’s previous compliance. 

“[His] GPS non-compliance amounts to taking the trash out,” he argued, and stated that Caesar’s alleged noncompliance for drug usage was due to his medication that tested positive for amphetamines.

Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) appeared in court to counter the defendant’s claims of compliance, saying that the defendant’s specific medications would not have led to a positive amphetamine test and that he had also violated his 10 p.m. curfew.

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld denied the defendant’s request based on the seriousness of charges pending. 

Judge Hertzfeld set a trial readiness date for Oct. 16 and the trial for Oct. 30.