Eight Defendants Held During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 13, 2020
Court | Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

On July 13, DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann held seven of 28 defendants during initial hearings.

Of the 28 defendants, only two had no charges filed. 

Joseph Howard was charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree sex abuse.

The prosecution cited Howard’s lengthy criminal history that consists of at least two other assaults, two drug cases, and a case of knife possession. They also cited an assault case in which Howard fled the courtroom after he pleaded guilty but before sentencing. 

Howard was also arrested and released on a citation on July 10 for attempting to touch someone’s breast.

Judge Herrmann decided to hold the defendant after examining his criminal history and the nature of his offenses. The judge also took the multitude of probation revocations in prior cases into consideration. 

Shaqques Johnson was held after being charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer and failing to obey an officer. He also has a pending sentencing hearing for a simple assault charge in which his probation was revoked.

Judge Herrmann decided to hold Johnson, citing his dangerousness and the fact that multiple law enforcement officers were injured during his arrest.

A defendant, who is charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm and simple assault, in a domestic violence case was also held by Judge Herrmann. The prosecution requested a hold because the defendant has six prior convictions with the same victim.

Demetrius Alston, who is charged with armed robbery, is also being held at DC Jail.

Judge Herrmann decided to hold Alston because a gun was fired and the defendant was released for two other cases involving dangerous weapons.

Albert Washington was also held by Judge Herrmann. Washington is charged with first-degree burglary. 

The defense requested that Washington be released on his promise to return to court or into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP), citing his age and the increased risk of contracting COVID-19 while incarcerated.

Judge Herrmann said she could not release him safely, saying Washington could commit the same violations if he was on GPS monitoring.

Louis Wesson is charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside of his home or business. He was also in court for two other cases, which encompassed assault, unlawful entry, destroying property and interfering with law enforcement charges. 

According to the prosecution, Wesson had an open warrant for initially assaulting a victim. He then assaulted her a second time after getting a gun. 

Judge Herrmann decided to hold Wesson based on the nature of his crimes and persistence to return to the victim.

Judge Herrmann held Kehinde Ogun. Ogun is charged with threatening to kidnap or injure a person. He was also present in court on assault charges. 

Judge Herrmann decided to hold the defendant despite the defense’s opposition, citing Ogun’s long history of threatening and dangerous behavior. 

A defendant was also held on a parole warrant, even though he was released for tampering with his detection device. 

There were nine domestic violence cases presented before Judge Herrmann. Eight of the defendants were released with conditions.

Four of the domestic violence defendants were charged with assault. They were released with stay-away orders and one no harassment order. The other four were also released with stay-away orders.

There were five misdemeanor cases. All of the defendants charged with misdemeanors were released with stay-away orders.

Judge Herrmann released three felony cases. One defendant was charged with a DUI, operating a vehicle while impaired, aggravated reckless driving and reckless driving.

He was convicted of another DUI in 2017, but the judge released him, citing his successful completion of probation. Two other defendants were released with minor conditions.