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By
Helena Betancourt [former]
- September 21, 2021
Court
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Daily Stories
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Sex Abuse
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Sexual Assault
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Suspects
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Victims
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A DC Superior Court judge denied a request to release a sex abuse defendant.
The 35-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree sexual abuse for allegedly forcing himself onto a woman while armed on March 25, 2006, in Southeast, DC. He picked up the case in April.
The defendant is a lifetime registered sex offender, according to court documents.
Defense attorney Jason Clark requested his client’s release from DC Jail during the Sept. 21 hearing, pointing out that the alleged incident occurred 15 years ago.
Clark also brought up a car accident the defendant was in back in 2017, which caused him the loose a leg and loose function in his hands. He said his client’s medical needs, which include post-accident surgeries that were scheduled before his arrest, cannot be met by the DC Jail.
Clark also argued that his client’s medical issues make him now incapable of committing the crime he is accused of committing in 2006.
Judge Marisa Demeo denied the request without prejudice. She said that, after reading court documents, including those in other cases of his, she thinks he appears to still pose a threat to his community. She also said the defendant is still capable of putting people’s lives at risk, even despite his medical injuries.
Judge Demeo did, however, allow the defense to gather the paperwork to prove that his medical needs require release from jail.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene for a status hearing on Nov. 4.