DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan partially granted a homicide defendant’s motion to sever his charges on Jan. 30.
Sherman Holley, 48, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 53-year-old James Brooks Jr. on the 200 block of 37th Street, SE on Jan. 15, 2023.
Holley is also charged with arson, destroying property more than $1,000, and resisting arrest for allegedly barricading himself inside an apartment and starting a fire on Jan. 16, 2023 on the same block as the murder. According to court documents, Holley was then taken to an area hospital for smoke inhalation where he allegedly assaulted a police officer for which he was also charged.
According to court records, Holley’s attorney, Kevin Irving, filed a motion on Aug. 29, 2025 asking to sever the arson, assault on an officer, from the murder charge.
At the hearing, the prosecutors opposed severance for any of the counts. According to the prosecution, within 24 hours of the stabbing, police found Holley “barricading” himself in an acquaintance’s apartment, screaming and throwing objects out of the windows. The apartment then erupted into flames leading to Holley’s arson charge.
The prosecution claimed when Holley finally left the burning building, first responders took him to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. At the hospital, Holley allegedly argued with an officer and started a physical altercation.
The prosecution argued the arson and assault charges are directly linked to Holley’s consciousness of guilt in murder from the day prior. They characterized Holley as non-compliant with officers.
Irving argued the arson and assault are unrelated to the murder charge. Regarding the assault on a police officer, Irving said the altercation “could have happened anywhere.”
The prosecution was attempting to “have their cake and eat it too” by combining Holley’s charges, said Irving. Irving claimed that the argument between Holley and the officer was not resistance of arrest but simply an altercation that could occur outside the context of the case.
Judge Ryan asserted Holley’s actions, barricading himself in the apartment and the apparent arson, within the 24-hour period showed consciousness of guilt. The judge denied the motion to sever the arson charge and ruled it will be tried at the same time as the murder.
Judge Ryan reiterated the prosecution’s argument and said “[Holley’s] trying to get away by setting the house on fire,” and setting himself on fire as well.
The motion was partially accepted by Judge Ryan, who agreed to sever the assault on an officer charge from the case after Irving’s argument.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 5.
