Judge Denies Release and Orders Evaluations for Juvenile Murder Defendants

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On April 4, DC Superior Court Judge Kendra Briggs ordered evaluations and denied one preteen and two teenage defendants’ request for release.

The three girls, a 12-year-old and two 13-year-olds, are charged with second-degree murder, assault, and conspiracy for their alleged involvement in the fatal beating of 64-year-old Reggie Brown on Oct. 17, 2023, on the 6200 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

According to testimony by a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective, Brown was physically handicapped and had no connections to the juveniles.

During the hearing, Judge Briggs reviewed reports for the three minors by their probation officers from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA).

The probation officers recommended the juveniles remain detained at the Youth Services Center (YSC) under the custody of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS). They also requested that the court order psychiatric and psycho-educational evaluations for them.

Therapy services was also recommended for one of the 13-year-old’s family members as well as the appointment of an education attorney and a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).

The judge agreed with CSOSA, ordering a psychiatric and psycho-educational evaluation for the 12-year-old and a 13-year-old. However, she granted the other 13-year-old’s request to order the psychiatric evaluation at a later date.

Judge Briggs denied the two 13-year-olds’ request for release, stating that the circumstances have not changed since they first appeared in court last week. She cited that the previous judge made a finding of substantial probability that the girls committed second-degree murder.

The girls will continue to be held as they await their next court date.

Parties are slated to reconvene May 8.

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