Judge Holds 2 Out of 7 Domestic Violence Defendants During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 19, 2021
Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

During initial hearings on May 17, DC Superior Court Judge Sean Staples held two domestic violence defendants.

In total, there were 30 defendants presented before the court. Of these cases, seven were domestic violence related.

One of the defendants is charged with simple assault. Defense counsel asked the judge to not find probable cause, saying it is unclear in the police report whether the defendant or the victim was the initial aggressor.

Judge Staples found probable cause, however, and decided to hold the defendant because of his history with domestic violence specifically involving the same victim as well as his loss of contact status during his probation.

The second defendant held is charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm and contempt. The defendant already has an open domestic violence case involving the same complaining witness, and he was ordered to stay away from the same person, which he allegedly violated. Given these circumstances, Judge Staples decided to hold the defendant pending his next hearing.

Both held defendants are scheduled to return to court on June 1.

The remaining five defendants charged with domestic violence cases were released. Their charges include simple assault, stalking, violation of a Civil Protection Order (CPO) and destruction of property. 

Four of the defendants were given stay-away orders from the alleged victims, and a fifth defendant was given an order not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the victim.

The released defendants are expected to return to court on Nov. 22.

There was one additional domestic violence defendant whose case was not called because he was released from the Central Cell Block (CCB) before the prosecution could filed his case. His arraignment was rescheduled for Nov. 22.