Judge Holds Defendant Charged With Unlawful Entry

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 21, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

On July 21, a DC Superior Court judge denied a release request from a defendant charged with unlawful entry.

Alexander Day is charged with contempt in two separate cases for violating the conditions of his pretrial release.

Defense attorney Ravi Regunathan asked that his client be released, as he is able to seek mental health treatment with Community Connections, a nonprofit organization that provides behavioral health, residential services, and primary health care coordination for marginalized and disenfranchised DC residents. 

Regunathan suggested that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) escort him to his parents’ home where he can get some money to arrive at a homeless shelter. 

“The last time he got let out [of jail], he had no money, no ability to go anywhere, no way to charge his phone, ” said Regunathan. “So he let go of the last hearing, and ended up getting arrested.” 

The prosecution objected, saying they confirmed there were no beds left at the shelter the defense mentioned, and it would take up to a month to secure another bed.

The prosecutor also said the current hearing was only to determine whether Day is competent to stand trial so that arguments regarding his release were not relevant.

Judge Maribeth Raffinan agreed, saying the defense ought to make their arguments during a detention hearing.

The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) determined that Day was competent to stand trial after conducting a forensic psychiatric evaluation on July 15.

Day is scheduled for a detention hearing on Aug. 6.

2020 DVM 000725