Homicide Defendant Arraigned on Three Charges

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On Oct. 5, Deonte Patterson was arraigned before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. in a full reading of the charges against him.

Deonte Patterson, 27, is accused of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and obstruction of justice for his suspected involvement in the murder of 32-year-old Ali Jamil Al-Mahdi. The incident occurred on Aug. 23, 2021, on the 1800 block of 9th Street, NW.

Through a stand-in defense attorney, Patterson pleaded not guilty to all charges and asserted his constitutional rights, including a speedy trial.

Patterson’s defense lawyer, Cheryl Stein, had previously motioned for a bond review. At his detention hearing on Jan. 23, the court ordered the defendant held without bond. Patterson is requesting the court reconsider that ruling and release him into the Pretrial Services Agency’s (PSA) high-intensity supervision program.

Stein was ill and could not appear in court on Oct. 5.

The judge postponed ruling on the bond review until Stein can attend.

The court scheduled a status hearing for Oct. 17.