DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz stated he will consider releasing a murder defendant to home confinement due to multiple health concerns during a hearing on July 10.
Dione Dorn, 42, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jaydon Parson, which occurred on Feb. 18 on the 700 block of H Street, NW.
Dorn’s attorney, Megan Allburn, stated that his health has declined and he has been to the hospital multiple times since entering the DJ Jail in May.
Allburn said Dorn was not being properly treated adding that Dorn has supportive family members who are willing to assist with his medical needs if home confinement was granted.
“This man has considerably declined since the allegations in this case,” said Allburn.
Allburn argued that Dorn’s circumstances were unique. He suffers from congestive heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes, and neuropathy, which Allburn said the jail could not properly address.
“People die in court all of the time without having these issues,” said Allburn, referring to the Department of Corrections (DOC’s) failure to address poor living conditions. She argued that Dorn’s health is significantly at risk while he’s incarcerated, noting that a power outage in the facility could be fatal.
The prosecution countered that Dorn had caused his medical conditions to worsen by refusing care while in DOC custody.
A DOC representative testified that Dorn had been to the hospital twice since May and that one of his medical complications was due to his refusal to eat after taking insulin.
Allburn argued that Dorn was not a defiant individual and was acting out of frustration with his long list of medical issues.
Judge Kravitz ordered an expert medical report to determine whether Dorn’s medical conditions would make him less dangerous to the public, so he could decide whether to release him from the DC Jail.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Aug. 15.
