Judge Holds 8, Releases 27 During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 23, 2020
Featured | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

On Oct. 23, DC Superior Court Judge Sean Staples released 27 defendants and held eight defendants in DC Jail during initial hearings.

Tyrone Brown, 64, was arrested on Oct. 22 for first-degree murder while armed. The incident that occurred took place on Oct. 1 when Brown allegedly shot and killed 45-year-old Orlando Miller at Brown’s residence on the 1700 block of  Lang Place, NE. Brown and Miller had been friends for around ten years, according to court documents.

Brown’s attorney, Stephany Reaves, argued that Brown should be released due to insufficient evidence regarding Brown’s involvement with the case. She also mentioned their friendship, which did not appear to have any “bad blood.”

Judge Staples found probable cause stating that evidence in the police report was sufficient, citing that Brown is allegedly seen on surveillance footage putting something in his pocket after the shooting, saying, “I had enough of you.”

Based on the nature and circumstances of the crime, Brown’s already pending drug possession case and his “very, very long criminal history,” Judge Staples denied the release request and held Brown at the DC Jail.  A new court date is set for Nov. 12.

Nahum Posner is being charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. On Oct. 22, Posner, 51, was seen on the 3000 block of 30th Street, SE and began stabbing the victim repeatedly. According to defense counsel, Posner deals with schizophrenia and was not on any medication on the day the offense.

Posner’s attorney, Carl Messineo, argued that he should be enlisted in the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) instead of being detained. The judge denied that motion based on the severity of the case and held Posner at the DC Jail.

Deangelo Mitchell, 28, is charged with robbery. According to court documents, Mitchell approached the victim at the Friendship Heights Metro station and informed the victim that he needed $140 to attend his grandmother’s funeral.

“I can take everything from you. I have a gun on me,” Mitchell said as he walked the victim to the ATM, where the victim withdrew $40.

Because of the severity of the offense and Mitchell’s past criminal history, Judge Staples decided to hold him.

A defendant is being held in a domestic violence case with charges of destruction of property less than $1,000 dollars, contempt and simple assault. Judge Staples said this is the defendant’s second case against the same victim this month, noting the escalating behavior in which he allegedly punched the victim in her face and broke windows at the residence. The defendant was held at DC Jail.

Dwayne Washington is charged with first-degree theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle and no permit. On Oct. 21, Washington, 37, wrongfully obtained and used a car that was not his with the intent to steal the vehicle.

Washington’s attorney, Reaves, argued that there was no evidence that the vehicle was stolen. “There is nothing in the Gerstein that states he did not know he did not have permission to be driving the vehicle,” Reaves said.

Judge Staples denied Reaves’ release request upon finding probable cause, citing that Washington already has pending cases. He said Washington is unlikely to abide by conditions of release.

A 41-year-old defendant is charged with sexual abuse and simple assault. During the hearing, the defendant attacked the officer in the Central Cell Block at the DC Jail. Judge Staples held the defendant, citing an attack that occurred during the hearing and similar offenses that the defendant has been charged with recently.

Kurtis Jackson is charged with being a fugitive from justice, where he is wanted in Maryland for failing to appear at his hearing. Jackson is charged with burglary in his underlying Maryland case. Judge Staples decided to hold Jackson for Maryland authorities to retrieve him, citing that he has multiple pending burglary charges in Maryland.

The final defendant held was Aman Ghirmi. Ghirmi, 49, was brought to court on two separate cases. In the first case, the defendant is charged with armed robbery for allegedly demanding $100 from the victim at gunpoint on the 700 block of Decatur Street, NW on Oct. 23.

Ghirmi was also brought in as a fugitive from justice, where he is wanted in Virginia for a probation violation with an underlying charge of robbery. Given the circumstances of his new case and the similarity of the charges in his Virginia case, Judge Staples decided to hold the defendant pending his next hearing on Nov. 12.

Of those released, six defendants were charged in domestic violence cases. The charges included simple assault, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, second-degree theft, possession of a prohibited weapon and destruction of property worth less than $1,000. All of the defendants were released with stay-away orders from the alleged victims.

Two defendants charged with being fugitives from justice were released by Judge Staples. He ordered the defendants to turn themselves in to authorities in the demanding jurisdictions of Virginia and Maryland.

Six defendants charged with felonies were also released. Five of the defendants are charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside of the home or a business and the other is charged with fleeing a law enforcement officer. The defendants with the weapons charges were all ordered not to possess any unlawful firearms in DC.

Judge Staples also released 12 defendants charged with misdemeanors. Five of the defendants were given stay-away orders while one was given a no harassing, assaulting, threatening or stalking (HATS) order. The rest were ordered to report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) once a week.

Two defendants, charged with being fugitives from justice, had their hearings moved to Oct. 24 because they are both in the hospital.

This article was written by Emily Pengelly and Krystin Roehl