Judge Hears 11 Domestic Violence Cases During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 26, 2021
Featured | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During initial hearings on Jan. 25, DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe heard 11 domestic violence cases out of a total of 32 cases.

Of the 11 domestic violence cases she heard, the judge only held one defendant.

The defendant is charged with simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm and contempt. The 30-year-old defendant allegedly violated a stay-away order while threatening the victim with a pellet gun and choking her.

The defendant’s defense counsel requested his release, citing that he lives with the alleged victim and helps support her and their five children.

Given the allegations in the police report as well as the defendant’s lengthy history of assaultive conduct toward the complainant, Judge Pipe decided to hold the defendant at the jail pending his next hearing, which is scheduled for Feb. 9.

Additionally, the court served the defendant with a Temporary Protection Order (TPO), which orders him to stay away from the victim and gives her temporary custody of their children.

Of those who were released, one defendant was brought in on bench warrants for failing to appear in court to discuss his probation in two cases. The defendant’s cases are from 2015, and he was released with orders to return to court on Feb. 25.

The remaining nine domestic violence defendants presented before the court had charges that include assault with a dangerous weapon, sex abuse, simple assault, threats to do bodily harm, Civil Protection Order (CPO) violoation, assault on a police officer and destruction of property.

Eight of the defendants were given stay-away orders from either the alleged victims, the locations of the incidents or both. One defendant was additionally put on GPS monitoring, and the final defendant was ordered not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the alleged victim.

All released defendants with new cases were ordered to return to court on June 28.