Judge Holds 2, Releases 25 During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 22, 2020
Featured | Homicides | Presentments | Suspects |

On Sept. 22, DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell released 25 defendants and held two defendants in DC Jail during their initial hearings.

Nathaniel Bates is charged with first-degree murder while armed for the death of Eddie Crist. The incident occurred on the 4000 Block of South Capitol Terrace, SW on May 8. 

Bates’ stand-in attorney, Amy Phillips, asked the judge not to find probable cause due to the lack of forensic evidence and eyewitness testimonies tying back to her client.

The prosecution argued that Bates, 35, was wearing an ankle monitor for a pending trial which shows evidence that he was at the scene of the crime when the murder took place. However, the exact time stamps are a little off, according to Phillips. 

Judge Crowell said he believes that there is probable cause because of the evidence showing Bates at the scene of the crime. 

Phillips asked for Bates to be put under pretrial supervision as he is currently employed. However, due to Bates’ prior convictions, Judge Crowell opted to keep Bates held. 

Judge Crowell scheduled Bates’ next hearing for Oct. 14.

Donnelle Brand is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. 

The prosecution argued that Brand, 39, is a danger to the community because of his affinity for guns based on his history, which includes two firearms convictions and a pending firearms charge in Maryland. However, the defense believes there is no probable cause based on the circumstances. 

According to court documents, Brand was found sitting on a handgun in his car after an accident had occurred. The defense argued that the firearm was in Brand’s purview rather than in his possession. 

Judge Crowell disagreed and held Brand because he was “unequivocally under the law in constructive possession of a weapon.” 

Judge Crowell scheduled Brand’s next hearing for Oct. 14. 

Of those defendants released, 11 did not have charges filed against them by the prosecution.

There were three defendants charged in domestic violence cases. They were released by Judge Crowell.

The defendants are all charged with simple assault, while two had additional charges of destruction of property less than $1,000 and second-degree theft. Two of the defendants were given stay-away orders and one was given a no harassing, assaulting, threatening or stalking (HATS) order in reference to the alleged victims.

There were also six misdemeanor cases involving charges of second-degree theft, destruction of property, GPS tampering, assault on a police officer and simple assault. Five of the defendants were given stay-away orders while one was ordered to report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) once a week.

Judge Crowell released one defendant who is charged with a felony. The defendant is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, which was a gun, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Judge Crowell released the defendant on GPS monitoring and gave him a stay-away order from the alleged victim.

Four defendants brought in on bench warrants for failing to appear at their hearings were released. One defendant was released by mistake, so Judge Crowell re-issued the bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest.

Finally, two defendants, both charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, have been in the hospital since Sept. 21, so Judge Crowell moved their hearings to Sept. 23.