Defendant Unsuccessfully Discharged for Physical Altercation Leading to Hospitalization

By Rachel Benck [former] - March 1, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

After a physical altercation, a defendant on probation was unsuccessfully discharged from a court-ordered residential drug treatment program.

On March 1, Markeis Crandall appeared in front of D.C. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt for a probation review hearing 10 months after he accepted a plea deal and was released from jail. 

Crandall, 19, was charged and sentenced for aggravated assault knowingly and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Nov. 26, 2021, on the 2200 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE. There were two victims who survived the attack, both having since been treated and released.

As part of his plea and release, Crandall was sentenced to 24 months of probation, and five years of supervised release. In addition, Crandall was ordered by the court to attend and successfully complete a residential drug treatment program for his Fentynal usage.

Crandall was placed in a treatment program, where he was later unsuccessfully discharged for taking part in a physical altercation that caused another member of the program to be hospitalized.

Defense attorney Sellano Simmons shared with Judge Brandt that Crandall had not participated in the actual altercation. He was present when employees of the program intervened but refused to speak on “who did what,” according to Simmons, because he didn’t want to be involved, and his incorporation led to his discharge.

Judge Brandt accepted this explanation in part but said she believes that the truth lies in the middle of everyone’s side of the story.

As a result, Judge Brandt ordered Crandall to attend anger management counseling in addition to his current sentence requirements, including community service, regular drug testing, and grief counseling.

A successful discharge from a residential drug treatment program is required of Crandall under his sentence, so Judge Brandt also requested he be placed in a different treatment program and warned him to “steer clear of negative forces and energy.”

All parties are scheduled to return to court for another probation review hearing on Aug. 23.