Judge Appoints New Co-Counsel for Murder Defendant

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 6, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During a status hearing Aug. 6, a murder defendant was appointed another lawyer to assist his primary counsel.

Cinquan Cartledge, 25, is charged with first-degree murder, robbery, and several gun related charges for his alleged role in the shooting death of 37-year-old Orlando Silver III on the 1300 block of Howard Road, SE on Nov. 27, 2016 . Cartledge was initially charged with second-degree murder.

DC Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman approved a motion from the defense to add co-counsel. Sara Kopecki is expected to join the case to assist Cartledge’s defense attorney, Carol A. Blume.

The defense also requested that Cartledge be released under the high intensity supervision program (HISP).

However, the judge denied the request on the grounds of community safety. Judge Edelman also noted that Cartledge was under GPS supervision at the time of the shooting.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Cartledge, and another defendant in the case, Marquette Tibbs, were wearing ankle monitors that placed them near the scene of Silver’s murder. Two witnesses identified Tibbs, 27, as the shooter.

Tibbs and Cartledge severed their cases, so they could testify in each other’s defense.

Cartledge is scheduled to have a status hearing on Dec. 4.