A carjacking defendant’s attorney argued that his client should have a new trial before DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel on July 10.
Devonte Carter, 31, was initially charged with armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Prosecutors alleged that he stole a Taizhou moped at gunpoint on July 10, 2024 on the 2100 block of 14th Street, SE.
Prior to jury deliberations, Judge Israel granted the defense motion for judgement of acquittal on April 10, 2025 for the possession charge. After deliberations, on April 14, 2025, a jury found Carter not guilty of armed carjacking, but guilty as to the lesser-included offense of unarmed carjacking.
However, Carter filed a motion on his own behalf on Aug. 25, 2025, claiming ineffective assistance of counsel from his trial attorney Gregg Baron and asking for a new trial. Carter argued in his motion that Baron failed to challenge significant differences between witness statements and their court testimony. Judge Israel removed Baron and appointed Adrian Madsen on Sept. 25, 2025.
At the hearing, Madsen argued that Carter should have a new trial because no witness identified him in or out of court as the perpetrator. This was a problem, Madsen said, because the prosecution claimed that a man riding a moped in a surveillance video was Carter, but never supported that claim with evidence.
Prosecutors argued that their case against Carter was strong enough as it was without witness identification either inside or outside the courtroom. They pointed to Carter’s DNA found on the handlebar brakes of the moped as additional strong evidence, as well as Carter’s evasive behavior when police confronted him on the night in question.
Madsen responded by arguing that the evidence the prosecution had might suggest guilt of a lesser crime, specifically unauthorized use of a vehicle, but not carjacking.
Judge Israel declined to make a ruling at the bench, but told parties she would email them when she had made a decision and inform them of the next hearing date.
