DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann denied release to a carjacking defendant who waived a preliminary hearing of the evidence on June 11.
Charnell Whitfield, 20, is charged with unarmed carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on May 24 at the 400 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
According to court documents, an individual, later identified as Whitfield, attempted to steal the victim’s scooter with a firearm readily available. At his arrest, Whitfield was discovered to be suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest, which was unrelated to the carjacking.
During the hearing, Whitfield waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Whitfield’s defense attorney, Bryan Bookhard, contended that Whitfield should be released to home confinement because he requires medical treatment for the gunshot wound sustained just before the incident.
Bookhard highlighted Whitfield’s age and stable family situation, noting that the defendant has a child on the way and expressed a desire to support the child’s mother through the pregnancy.
Prosecutors signaled the crime’s severity to the judge, emphasizing the substantial CCTV evidence of the carjacking, the weapon, and Whitfield’s extensive criminal history.
Judge Herrmann denied Whitfield’s release. She stated that Whitfield has a bench warrant and an extraditable warrant due to missing a probation violation hearing in Montgomery County for a separate weapons conviction.
A felony status conference is slated for July 9.
