Judge Denies Request to Remove Defendant’s GPS Device

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 11, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a status hearing, a DC Superior Court judge denied Feb. 8 the defense’s request to remove a murder defendant’s GPS monitoring device. 

Codefendants Victor Carvajal and Mason Binion are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged role in the death of 21-year-old Michael Francis Taylor on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW in 2008. Joshua Massaquoi is also charged in Taylor’s death. Massaquoi, 31, is currently housed at St. Elizabeth’s hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital. Carvajal, 32, and Binion, 31, are released under the high intensity supervision program (HISP).

Binion’s defense attorney, Gladys Weatherspoon, said she filed the motion on Feb. 5 because the GPS device was malfunctioning and required additional charging, which impeded on her client’s work life.

However, Judge Todd Edelman said charging issues are not a valid reason for removal.  Judge Edelman also said he would order pretrial services, the organization that oversees HISP, to give Binion a new GPS device.

The prosecution opposed the defense’s request, saying Binion simply wants to get out of a chore, referring to maintaining his GPS monitoring device.

According to court documents, a witness told police that Taylor helped “broker a deal” between a drug dealer and a group of individuals, including Binion, Carvajal and Massaquoi. Apparently, the drug deal was botched and the group paid but never received the marijuana.

Binion told police he supplied the gun and set up the murder. Massaquoi told police Binion shot Taylor and that Carvajal hit Taylor in the head with a rock.

Carvajal and Binion are scheduled for a status hearing on April 4. Massaquoi is scheduled for a status hearing on Feb. 12.