Judge Denies Homicide Defendant’s Request For Release

By Aubree Tomasetti [former] - October 17, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Oct. 17, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied a request for the release of a 2021 homicide defendant. 

Deonte Patterson, 27, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Ali Jamil Al-Mahdi. The incident occurred on Aug. 23, 2021, on the 1800 block of 9th Street, NW. 

On Oct. 5, defense attorney Cheryl Stein filed a motion for Patterson’s supervised release.

In the motion, Stein argued Patterson’s detainment was based on emergency legislation that is set to expire on Oct. 18. According to court documents, this legislation finds that the “presumption of dangerousness is now triggered whenever the court finds that there is probable cause that the person committed any of the foregoing offenses while armed with or having readily available a pistol…”  Under this legislation, the court found probable cause at Patterson’s detention hearing. 

Prosecution argued Patterson was a “flight risk,” and expressed he should remain in detainment. 

Judge Raffinan acknowledged the emergency legislation will be in effect for at least another 90 days and denied the motion for his release. 

Parties are expected to reconvene Feb. 7 for an hearing about defense access to evidence in the case.