Thank you for reading D.C. Witness.
Help us continue our mission into 2025 by donating to our end of year campaign.
By
D.C. Witness Staff
- September 10, 2020
Court
|
Daily Stories
|
Homicides
|
Suspects
|
On Sept. 10, a DC Superior Court judge found probable cause in a domestic violence case and held the defendant at DC Jail.
The defendant is charged with contempt for allegedly violating a stay away order on July 29 that he was given as a condition of his pretrial release.
The defendant is also charged with unlawful entry, contempt, possession of an open container of alcohol/public intoxication, simple assault and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon in two other domestic violence cases. He is also charged with contempt and threats to injure or kidnap a person in a felony domestic violence case.
Two Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers testified at the Sept. 9 hearing to determine if there was probable cause that the defendant violated the stay away order. The defendant waived his right to testify.
The defendant’s attorney, Seth Schrager, said probable cause could not be found because the officer and victim’s testimony could not be corroborated.
However, Judge Judith Pipe did find probable cause, saying there was no reason to doubt the credibility of the officers or the victim.
Schrager also asked Judge Pipe to put his client on pretrial release due to significant delays in court hearings. Schrager said the defendant’s offense was non-violent in nature and the defendant has a job and could continue working if released.
The prosecution argued that the defendant should be held due to repeated violations of the stay away order and the possibility of escalation.
Judge Pipe held the defendant to ensure the safety of the community.
The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 16 for a status hearing.