Judge Holds 2 Domestic Abuse Defendants During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 9, 2021
Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

During initial hearings on April 9, DC Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nolan held two domestic violence defendants at the DC Jail.

In total, there were 23 cases presented before the court. Six of these cases were domestic violence-related and one was a sex abuse case.

Judge Nolan held a male domestic violence defendant who is charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm, simple assault, unlawful entry and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Defense counsel asked the judge to not find probable cause, saying that the defendant said, “I would never stab you,” which could not be construed as a threat. He also said it is not clear whether the defendant had a key to the apartment, or if he was allowed to be there.

The prosecution asked for the judge to hold the defendant, noting his prior 2017 felony conviction of assault with a dangerous weapon for which he is still on probation. 

Judge Nolan found probable cause and decided to hold the defendant.

He said he did not feel like there were conditions that he could fashion that would protect the community.

Another male domestic violence defendant is held on charges of simple assault. The prosecution said there are allegations that the defendant strangled the victim and asked for a hold citing a simple assault conviction from 2020 that involved the same victim.

Defense counsel requested the defendant be released on GPS monitoring, but Judge Nolan said he was concerned he would not follow the court’s orders since he already had an order not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the victim as a part of his probation requirements.

Both held defendants have their next hearings scheduled for April 27, and they were both given stay-away orders from the alleged victims.

The four domestic abuse defendants released by Judge Nolan have charges that include simple assault, destruction of property and contempt. All defendants were given stay-away orders and told to come back to court in October. Two of the defendants were additionally ordered to get GPS monitoring devices installed.

Judge Nolan also released a defendant who is charged with sex abuse, attempted sex abuse and lewd, indecent or obscene acts. The defendant was told to call the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) once a week, and his next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 15.