Defense Requests Release After Defendant Suffers from Numerous Stabbings At DC Jail

By Delaney Don [former] - October 6, 2022
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

In an Oct. 6 hearing, defense attorneys Anthony Matthews and Rachel Cicurel submitted an oral motion for the release of a homicide defendant after he suffered from numerous violent assaults during his detainment at the DC Jail.

Jordan Jones, 22, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to an Oct. 11, 2021, shooting of 18-year-old Noel Prince Nicol on the 2000 block of Savannah Place SE. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Nicol slumped over in the driver seat of his blue Chevrolet Malibu three days after his murder on Oct. 14, 2021. An autopsy confirmed Nicol suffered from two gunshot wounds to the right temple of his head.

Since his arrest on May 12, Jones has been the victim of several violent attacks at the DC Jail, Matthews said.

According to Matthews, Jones has suffered a physical attack resulting in cracked teeth and two separate stabbings, one on May 18 and the other on July 27.

The defense said there were more incidents but are waiting to receive the rest of the documents from the hospital. One of the stabbings resulted in criminal charges against the perpetrator.

“He is being targeted,” Cicurel said. “The calls we have received about hospitalizations have not been insignificant.” 

Cicurel says the alternative option, solitary confinement, would “destroy his mental health.”

Upon redirect, the prosecution said release would be premature without a written motion from the defense. The prosecution also proposed potential insufficient security measures allowing the assaults to take place. 

At the end of the hearing, the defense presented an email sent to the prosecution after the July 27 stabbing. The email requested Jones’ immediate transfer from the Central Detention Facility (CDF) to the Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF), asking for the prosecution’s help in filing the motion. 

When presented with the email, the prosecution had no objection to the defendant’s transfer to CTF.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan requested a written motion from the defense to solidify the defense’s intentions to seek release. 

Judge Raffinan also issued a medical alert for Jones’ safety and an official motion to transfer Jones to CTF.

To allow time for the defense to file a written motion and for the prosecution to respond, Judge Raffinan scheduled the next hearing for Dec. 16.