Judge Holds 8 of 37 Defendants During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 24, 2020
Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

On Aug. 24, DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna released 29 defendants and held eight defendants in DC Jail during their initial hearings.

Three separate individuals with unlawful firearm carrying charges were held. 

Michael Johnson is charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. Judge McKenna said Johnson’s case was more than just a simple possession of a firearm. He was found in possession of 44 rounds of ammunition in addition to the firearm.

Additionally, Judge McKenna said she was alarmed at the fact that the defendant was apprehended in a heavily-crowded public area, expressing concern for the community’s safety.

Delonte Jackson is also charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. The judge granted the hold because Jackson was already on pretrial for a prior offense, had three pending cases and fled from law enforcement in his most recent arrest.

The third defendant, charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside home or business, Trayvonne Branham, is also charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. Judge McKenna held him because he completed probation two weeks prior to this new case and has had multiple contacts with law enforcement in relation to firearms.

Judge McKenna also held two defendants involved in domestic violence cases. 

The first defendant is charged with simple assault, destruction of property less than $1,000 and contempt. Judge McKenna approved the prosecution’s request for a hold because the defendant showed blatant disregard to court orders, having had multiple domestic violence charges throughout the year with the same victim.

The judge said she was concerned with the repeated harassment against the same victim.

The second defendant is charged with unlawful entry of private property, contempt, simple assault and second-degree theft.

Judge McKenna said the defendant purposefully overlooked government orders, having had violated previous stay-away orders. The defendant also was charged in a domestic violence case two weeks prior to the current case. 

Leroy Kear was held due to the dangerous nature of his conduct in  two cases. In his first case, he is charged with assault of a police officer and simple assault. In the second case, he is charged with attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, which was a rock.

Judge McKenna said his behavior was unpredictable and dangerous in both cases and felt that holding Kear was in the best interest of the community.

Judge McKenna held Ever Umanzor Martinez, who is charged with simple assault and second-degree theft in one case and as a fugitive from justice in another case.

Martinez allegedly stole his former girlfriend’s phone and then choked her when she confronted him, according to court documents. McKenna held him, citing his three pending cases and his noncompliance with parole.

Christian Mitchell, charged with armed carjacking, was also held. Mitchell’s defense attorney asked the judge not to find probable cause, citing that Mitchell did not hold the gun but only finalized the sale of the car.

However, Judge McKenna decided to hold Mitchell since he allegedly was the primary instigator of the crime and was the one who drove the car away.

Of those released, one defendant did not have charges filed, and one was dismissed by the prosecution.

Seven defendants charged in domestic violence cases were released by Judge McKenna. All were given stay-away orders while two of the defendants were given additional release requirements that included GPS monitoring and placement under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).

One defendant, charged with being a fugitive from justice, was released with orders to turn herself in to Virginia authorities, where she is wanted for a traffic offense.

Judge McKenna released three co-defendants all charged with unlawful entry of a motor vehicle. They were all given stay-away orders from the alleged victim.

Ten additional defendants charged with misdemeanors were presented before the judge. The defendants had charges including simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm, bail violation, second-degree theft, misuse of tags, unlawful entry, unlawful possession of ammunition and contempt. Nine of the defendants were given stay-away orders and one was given a no harassment, assaultive, threatening or stalking (HATS) order. 

Four additional felony cases were heard involving charges of carrying a pistol without a license and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Two of the defendants were ordered not to possess any firearms or ammunition, one was given a stay-away order and another defendant was ordered to report for drug testing once it is available through pretrial services.

Two defendants were charged with traffic-related offenses involving a DUI, operating a vehicle while impaired and driving without a valid license. One was released with orders not to drive at all, and one was released with orders not to drive without a valid license.

Two final defendants, one charged with second-degree theft and one charged with assaulting a police officer, were still in the hospital. Judge McKenna moved their hearings to Aug. 25. The defendants have been in the hospital since July 20 and Aug. 12, respectively.