Judge Finds Probable Cause in Robbery Case

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A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a robbery case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Richard Naylor, 30, is accused of robbing a victim of his cell phone on a metro bus heading to the Mt. Vernon metro station on June 30.

During the Oct. 29 hearing, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective corroborated the statements made in court documents about the events of the crime and explained to the prosecution how the victim picked the defendant out in a photo array.

Defense attorney Stephen Logerfo tried to show Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage, but due to technical difficulties, could only show still images.

He asked the detective if there was any dirt on the back of the victim from being pushed to the ground, of which the witness was unsure. He also asked the witness if the victim had said he had traveled to the Mt. Vernon metro station in his statement. The witness was also uncertain.

DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann found probable evidence based on the witness’s testimony. She then scheduled a felony status conference for Feb. 18. In the meantime, Naylor will remain held at DC Jail.

Documents state that the victim followed Naylor out of the metro and eventually onto the 2400 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE, where he tried to get his phone back after the alleged robbery. Naylor allegedly pushed the complainant to the ground before robbing him of $150. The victim flagged down an officer and Naylor was arrested.

Abigail Grifno wrote this article.