Judge Holds Defendant with COVID-19

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 3, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

On Aug. 3, a DC Superior Court judge decided against releasing a defendant who tested positive for COVID-19.

Lloyd Patterson, 35, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers became suspicious of the way Patterson was walking on March 28, according to court documents. The officers followed the defendant down the 4300 block of 3rd Street, SE. The defendant allegedly throw a bag of cocaine over a fence when he saw the officers approaching.

After apprehending Patterson, officers discovered that he was convicted of assault with intent to kill in a 2004 case.

Defense attorney Carrie Weletz requested that her client be released because he tested positive for COVID-19 at the DC Jail. 

Judge Ronna Beck denied the defense’s request, citing that Patterson was under supervision for another case at the time of the arrest.

Judge Beck then continued the case in order to give the prosecution time to decide if they want to charge Patterson with more offenses related to the incident. 

Patterson is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 7 to discuss the status of his case.