Judge Holds 8 Defendants and Released 21 During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 25, 2020
Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

On Sept. 25, a DC Superior Court judge held eight defendants during their initial hearings.

A male defendant was charged with sex abuse and assaulting a police officer. On Sept. 24, police officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were called to the 600 block of New York Avenue, NE for an individual harassing a female. According to court documents, the defendant held a spray bottle in his hand and sprayed two MPD officers. 

Judge James Crowell ordered the defendant held, due to evidence of him being non-compliant in the past.

Kenneth Greene, 38, is charged with second-degree theft. According to court documents, on Sept. 24, alarms were triggered as the defendant was leaving a building on the 1300 block of Potomac Avenue, SE. Greene was searched and items were found in his bag. The defendant allegedly admitted to stealing the items.

He is being held pending his next hearing on Oct. 13.

Anthony Wall, 44, is charged with receiving stolen property. He also had two outstanding arrest warrants for destruction of property.

According to court documents, MPD observed a vehicle with a D.C. government tag. The police then discovered the government tag belonged to a vehicle owned by MPD, and the VIN number of the observed vehicle was not registered. 

Judge Crowell ordered that Wall be held and also ordered a mental health evaluation.

Elmer Lopez-Cortez is charged with being a fugitive from justice from the state of Maryland, with an underlying charge of homicide. The defendant agreed to stay in DC Jail to allow Maryland authorities to extradite him within three business days. 

Shane Smith, 24, is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute while armed. On Sept. 24, officers were called to the 1800 block of Kendall Street, NE, to assist with serving court paperwork. MPD and the landlord of the property knocked on the door of the apartment where the defendant was staying. According to court documents, when the door opened MPD could see a firearm in plain sight. After searching the apartment, MPD recovered drugs and additional firearms. 

Judge Crowell ordered the defendant held and scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 15.

Alvin Brown, 35, is charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in a crime of violence. On Sept. 24,Brown backed into a police vehicle before attempting to flee in a vehicle. After being detained, MPD observed a firearm on the floorboard underneath the seat that Brown was sitting in.

Judge Crowell ordered the defendant held, due to the serious nature of his criminal history.

Shawn Fowler is charged with threat to kidnap or injure a person. 

Judge Crowell said due to the serious nature of the crime and the repeated violent harassment of the victim, he could not guarantee the safety of the community and ordered the defendant held.

Tyrone Edmondson, 48, is charged with second-degree theft in four separate cases. Edmonson was discovered with stolen tools in an alleyway on the 1300 block of Randolph Street, NW.

Judge Crowell said because three of the cases involved the same victim at the same location, he could not guarantee the safety of the community and ordered the defendant held.

Two defendants were charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Judge Crowell released the defendants with stay-away orders, and ordered they report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) weekly.

Two defendants with outstanding bench warrants for failing to appear in court were also released. Judge Crowell quashed the warrants and ordered the defendants to return to court on Feb. 26, 2021.

Four defendants, charged with being fugitives from justice, were released. Their extradition hearings are scheduled for Dec. 23. An additional defendant with fugitivity charges had his case dismissed by the prosecution.

Five of the defendants are involved in domestic violence cases. They were all released and given stay-away orders. The underlying charges included simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm, unlawful entry and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon.

Four additional defendants were charged in weapons cases. One was given a stay-away order and one was ordered to be on GPS monitoring.

Four final defendants were released, two of whom were given stay-away orders.

Two initial hearings were postponed due to the defendants currently being in the hospital. The defendants’ cases will be reviewed on Sept. 26.