Judge Gives Non-Compliant Murder Suspect Another Chance

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A murder defendant cited for a number of release violations was told by DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman that he needs to do better if he expects more lenient terms. The exchange came in a May 22 hearing to determine whether the 39-year-old defendant can stay out of jail pending trial.

Charles Jeter and Kevin Sewell, 33, are charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, burglary while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for the fatal shooting of 46-year-old Kevin Robinson on Nov. 30, 2014, on the 600 block of Edgewood Street, NE. Robinson was Sewell’s father.

During the hearing, an official with DC Pretrial Services (PTS) said that Jeter’s GPS monitoring device wasn’t working between May 3 through May 5, thus a violation of his release conditions. He is required to keep the monitor sufficiently charged.

Carrie Waletz, Jeter’s attorney, said the failure was with the unit’s power supply and not Jeter’s fault.

However, the PTS official said the device was tested on May 19 and “it was in working order,”

Waletz said that Jeter was “surprised” by what happened and that this is his only infraction in 16 months. The prosecutor disagreed and claimed that Jeter has had other problems sticking with his release conditions.

A review of court records shows Jeter has had four earlier non-compliance notifications in the past year. Waletz says Jeter needs to move beyond his allowed locations to get medical care for a painful locked jaw problem. Further, he’d like to get a job.

“He has little support,” said Waletz.

Considering the matter, Judge Edelman said, “We’ve had all these compliance bumps.” However, the judge told Jeter, “Give me 30 days of compliance,” and he will reconsider the matter. Meanwhile, the judge discharged the order to review Jeter’s continued release.

Sewell, Jeter’s co-defendant, is also on release under similar restrictions.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 31.