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By
Isabella Quink [former]
, Rachel Benck [former] - February 9, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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stabbing
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Suspects
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Victims
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D.C. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt advocated for a defendant’s right to discuss a plea deal with his attorneys during a Feb. 9 hearing in a murder case.
Micheal Dolson, 37, is being charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the murder of Kenneth Thomas Jr., 42, at the Cloud Lounge, located on the 1900 block of 9th Street, NW
on March 14, 2022.
Defense attorney Anthony Matthews previously filed a motion to dismiss the case due to the prosecution failing to file an indictment before the 9 month deadline. The prosecution requested and was granted an extended time before the motion was filed.
Matthews argued that the main issue now is Dolson’s potential release. Dolson is currently serving a sentence that is slated to end in April for a case Judge Brandt also presided over.
Judge Brandt said release is not possible at this time and that if Matthews wanted to argue for his client’s release, he would have to at a future hearing.
Matthews and the prosecutor expressed that plea negotiations had been discussed, but the prosecution was under the assumption that the defense rejected the offer.
However, Judge Brandt talked to Dolson directly, and he expressed he did not have enough time to talk to Matthews about the offer.
“Mr. Dolson emits a quiet strength,” Judge Brandt said. ”If he’s telling me he needs more time, I know that from experience to be true.”
The prosecution said a discussion needs to happen with the family before the plea offer deadline can be extended.
The next hearing is scheduled for March 24.