Judge Gives Defense More Time to Review Plea

By D.C. Witness Staff - June 24, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

Two co-defendants received more time to review a plea offer from the prosecution on June 23.

Antonni Flores and Ryan Harding were charged with second-degree burglary on April 10. The co-defendants entered a residence and stole a vacuum cleaner and bicycle while multiple residents were present in the building. 

The prosecution presented plea offers for each defendant prior to the preliminary hearing on June 23. Harding’s offer proposes that the prosecution would not indict him for any additional charges stemming from the burglary. 

Additionally, the prosecution said they would dismiss one of Flores’ contempt of court charges and that he would receive a maximum sentence of 90 days for a separate contempt of court charge. 

Flores and Harding’s defense attorneys, Henry Escoto and Raymond Jones, requested two or three weeks to review the terms of the plea offer. DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz granted the defense’s request. 

After the request had been granted, the co-defendants asked to be released from DC Jail. The defendants mentioned a lack of medical care and sanitation in the jail, citing ignored requests for medical treatment.

Judge Kravitz proposed filing medical alerts for both defendants after Harding explained his lack of treatment for glaucoma and Flores explained his ignored requests for treatment of a bump he had gotten on his chest.

Judge Kravitz also set a separate hearing to evaluate Flores and Harding’s request for release.

The release request and the plea offer are scheduled to be addressed on July 14.