Homicide Defendant Pleads Not Guilty to All Charges and Remains on Curfew

By Rhiannon Little [former] - August 17, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Aug. 17, a defendant in a 2022 homicide was arraigned before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. 

Desmond Gaskin, 37, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, first-degree theft, and several other charges for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 40-year-old William Whittington Jr. on July 19, 2022, on the 400 block of Burbank Street, SE.

Gaskin’s attorney, Jason Tulley, alerted the court Gaskin was pleading not guilty to all charges and asserted his fifth and Sixth Amendment rights as well as his right to a speedy trial.

The defense made an oral request to modify Gaskin’s release conditions to remove his curfew from midnight to 6 a.m. Tulley said the “community is not going to be unsafe” if Gaskin is allowed to be out during these hours.

The prosecution objected to the request and said the defendant is alleged to have stolen a hard drive containing surveillance footage of the crime scene at 1:00 a.m. on July 20, 2022, which warrants the curfew. They asked the defense to file a written motion so they could respond.

Judge Raffinan denied the request to eliminate Gaskin’s curfew because the case has now been indicted by a grand jury. She told Gaskin to continue complying with his release conditions.

Parties are expected to return on Oct. 12 for a status hearing.