Judge Denies Defendant’s Request for Change of Counsel

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On Dec. 1, a homicide defendant requested that his lawyer withdraw from the case before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein.

Keshawn Lavender, 22, Raymond Mathis, 36, and Deandre Sams, 27, are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged involvement in a fatal shooting that killed 32-year-old Matthew Miller that occurred on Sept. 5, on the 200 block of M Street, SW. The incident left five other individuals suffering from non-life threatening injuries.

Lavender’s defense attorney, Kevin Irving, filed a motion on behalf of Lavender requesting a change of counsel. In the motion, Lavender outlined that he was requesting for his attorney to withdraw as counsel, with no further explanation.

Judge Epstein denied the motion stating that there is no basis for a change of counsel.

Epstein stated that “granting it would delay things further.”

A status hearing is set for July 28, 2024.

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