Judge Hears Arguments on Protective Order and Dismissal Motions

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On July 24, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan heard arguments from the defense and the prosecution on the defense’s motion to modify a protective order and to dismiss the case for homicide defendant Deon Walters.

Walters, 19, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and attempt to commit robbery while armed, among other charges, for his alleged involvement in the Oct. 1, 2020 death of 42-year-old Arthur Daniels IV.

Daniels was found in the front yard of a residence on the 6200 block of 8th Street, NW, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. According to court documents, the shooting occurred during an attempted robbery.

During the hearing, prosecutors and defense attorneys argued a motion filed by defense to have a protective order redacted to give them more information about witnesses in the case. Judge Raffinan partially granted the order, allowing for identification of certain witnesses based on the nature and content of their testimony.

Judge Raffinan then heard arguments over a defense motion to dismiss the case. Defense attorneys argued that, when the case was moved from family court to criminal court under Title 16, Walters’ constitutional rights were violated.

Walters was 17 at the time of the murder. He was initially charged as a child in family court, and is now being charged as an adult as stipulated under DC Code Title 16.

Defense attorneys argued that Title 16 was a violation of defendant’s due process rights as it allowed for the prosecutors to make the decision to try a defendant as an adult without any opportunity for appeal or even a hearing.

The prosecuting attorney argued that this is how power was delegated by Congress, and that laws like Title 16 have been upheld by various courts.

Judge Raffinan is expected to make a ruling on the issue in the near future.

Parties will return on Aug. 31.

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