Judge Discharges 8 Defendants, Revokes One Probation

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 9, 2020
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A DC Superior Court judge discharged eight hearings, continued two, issued two bench warrants and revoked a defendant’s probation during show cause hearings on Dec. 7.

Judge Robert Okun discharged the probation show cause hearing for a defendant who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of liquid PCP in 2018.

Avery Clayborne was given two years supervised probation for his charge. He was given time to come into compliance during his last show cause hearing on Oct. 22. A Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) representative reported that Clayborne has come into complete compliance with GPS requirements, reporting to his case manager and attending treatment appointments. 

Judge Okun also discharged a hearing for a defendant who has come into complete compliance with his conditions of probation.

Kristopher Shrewsbury pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction back in March 2019. Judge Okun asked probation to notify parties of updates for his pending matter in Montgomery County, Md.

The pretrial show cause hearing for Clifton Clinton was discharged due to his marginal compliance.

The 50-year-old was charged with robbery in February. He picked up two dead GPS battery violations on Nov. 11 and 15. 

Clinton is currently under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). The judge continued Clinton on the same pretrial release conditions. 

The pretrial show cause hearing for Michael West was discharged because he has come into compliance with his conditions.

The 23-year-old was charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business in May. During a Nov. 4 hearing, West’s conditions of release were modified to be more strict and he was placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). He remains in HISP and is compliant. 

The judge discharged a hearing for a defendant charged with possession of a controlled substance due to him coming into compliance.

Fransoir William-Johnson, 23, received three notices on noncompliance on Sept. 30, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3. The judge ordered him to verify his address to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) office. 

Judge Okun discharged a show cause hearing for Freddy Reyes, who is charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm. 

The 25-year-old received a notice of noncompliance with pretrial release conditions on Nov. 17. The judge discharged the hearing because he is in marginal compliance. However, Reyes is ordered to report to the PSA office to verify his address today.

 The hearing for Cornell Nicks, charged with second-degree burglary in August  2019, was discharged because he has come into compliance.

The 60-year-old received dead GPS battery violations in October and on Nov. 5. The judge denied the defendant’s request to step down his conditions of pretrial release.

Judge Okun also discharged the hearing for Dajuan Blakney due to him coming into compliance with his conditions of probation.

Blakney pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary in September 2019 and received 18 months supervised probation. On Nov. 17, a notice of noncompliance was filed against him for his failure to report for GPS monitoring. On Nov. 24, he complied with GPS monitoring conditions. 

The judge continued a probation show cause hearing for Leonard Mayrant, who is  not in total compliance.

Mayrant pleaded guilty to second-degree theft on Feb. 24 and was remanded to one year supervised probation with drug testing requirements. His attorney, Ralph Robinson, informed the court of the defendant’s re-arrest in Leesburg, Va. The case was continued to trail. The defendant’s re-arrest is set for a hearing on April 19, 2021. 

A probation show cause hearing was continued for Gary Datcher because he is not in total compliance and needs to make improvements.

The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to attempt to commit robbery and simple assault on July 19, 2019. He was sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) and was given 18 months supervised probation.

To date, Datcher missed one check in with a Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) officer and there was an issue with a dead battery for his GPS. He also appeared to the show cause hearing via Webex although he was specifically instructed to show up in person. The continued hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7. 

A bench warrant was issued for Ronnie Turner for his failure to appear and for his lack of contact since he was charged.

The 50-year-old was charged in September with distribution of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Two notices of noncompliance were filed against him on Oct. 23 and Nov. 18. The bench warrant was issued with a cash or surety bond where the defendant can pay 10% for his release. 

The judge issued a bench warrant for James McKnight due to his failure to appear at a status hearing, pretrial show cause hearing and probation show cause hearing scheduled for three of his cases.

The 36-year-old is charged with GPS tampering, a failure to charge, in one case. A bench warrant was issued in this case for his failure to appear at a pretrial show cause hearing on Sept. 28. In his second case, he is charged with tampering with physical evidence. In his third case, McKnight pleaded guilty to misdemeanor sex abuse on March 6 and was given one year supervised probation. A bench warrant issued on Aug. 14 for his failure to appear to a show cause hearing for his third case. 

Judge Okun discharged the show cause hearing and terminated Malcolm Cobb’s probation as unsuccessful because he said he feels like the defendant is being overwhelmed.

Cobb was convicted of second-degree theft on March 25, 2019. He was given one year supervised probation and the requirement to seek drug and mental health treatment. Since his last show cause hearing on Oct. 5, multiple notices of noncompliance have been filed against him. According to his attorney, Chris Langello, Cobb entered drug treatment and completed it on Nov. 5. 

The judge approved a defendant’s entering into a diversion agreement.

Taha Ahmed was charged with second-degree theft, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle on Nov. 6, 2016. If he successfully fulfills all of the ordered conditions, there may be an agreement in which his charges will be dropped. The case is continued for the completion of the agreement.