Defendant with Multiple Cases and Charges Isn’t Released

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A DC Superior Court judge denied releasing a defendant who has five pending cases.

Shishay Kidne’s was scheduled for a non-jury trial for four pending charges for April 29. However, it was canceled on April 15. Apparently, the charges span from several incidents.

Kidne, 50, was charged with simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm and bail violation for three separate incidents that occurred in 2018 and 2019.

Kidne was charged with simple assault in 2018 for allegedly striking a store manager after being asked to leave for disorderly conduct. He did not appear for his court hearing, and then was charged with bail violation.

In 2019, he was charged with assaulting a police officer and attempted threats to do bodily harm. He allegedly made intimidating statements to a civilian and resisted arrest.

In a different 2019 case, he was charged with simple assault for striking a restaurant manager. Then, in 2020, he failed to appear for his court hearing and was charged with a bail violation again.

Kidne was released on personal recognizance on Oct. 21, 2019. He violated the conditions of his release on Jan. 16.

On Jan. 21, Kidne underwent a mental competency screening. He was found incompetent by the Department of Behavioral Health and ordered to complete a full competency exam at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.

A mental observation hearing was held on Feb. 19, where he was found competent for trial.

Since then, Kidne has been detained and remains in custody at the DC Jail.

He is scheduled for a status hearing on June 4.