DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel vacated a scheduled trial date for a co-defendant stabbing case to allow time for a federal prisoner to return to DC Jail on July 7.
Antoine Turner, 32 and Nathaniel Patten, 33, are charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant bodily injury while armed for their alleged involvement in the stabbing of another inmate at the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE, on Dec. 30, 2025.
Turner and Patten’s trial was originally scheduled for July 14, but Patten’s attorney, Ferguson Evans, told Judge Israel during the hearing that Patten had informed him of a witness that was transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BoP).
Ferguson alerted Judge Israel he was able to locate the witness at the BoP, but was told his transfer would not be possible before the trial date.
Prosecutors did not object to the request to delay the trial for the witness to be transferred.
Evans also asked for Patten’s release because he was currently held without bond, but was sentenced in a different case. He asked for release in the stabbing so Patten can begin his sentence at the BoP as he awaits trial.
Prosecutors disagreed, stating if the court allowed Patten to be transferred to BoP to serve his sentence it would make it difficult to ensure he was returned to DC for the stabbing trial.
Judge Israel agreed with the prosecution, and denied Patten’s motion.
Parties are slated to reconvene Aug. 11.
