Judge Holds Defendant with Multiple Probation Violations

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 7, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Probation | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge held a defendant July 7 after he violated his probation multiple times.

Christopher Proctor pleaded guilty to the second-degree burglary on Sept. 11. He was given four months in jail plus three years of supervised probation on Nov. 21.

In his decision, Judge Michael O’Keefe cited the defendant’s history of substance abuse and mental health issues, along with a lack of accessibility to outpatient drug and mental health resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Proctor is being supervised in Maryland for his DC charges. His probation officer in Maryland said that he has been in and out of treatment because there are periods of time where he loses contact.

Proctor has also picked up three additional charges while on probation. He was charged with simple assault on Feb. 26 and March 30. He was also charged with simple assault and assault on a police officer on May 9.

Proctor’s probation officer says that he is in need of intense psychological and drug abuse treatment.

Judge O’Keefe asked Proctor’s attorney, Gemma Stevens, if there was any probation plan she believed would prevent Proctor from picking up additional charges. Stevens said that she believes her client’s behavior has derived from stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of a steady job that he held for a year.

Stevens also said Proctor seems very clear-headed after being incarcerated for 60 days, and that he is motivated to stay clean and get back on the right track if he remains on probation.

Judge O’Keefe examined Proctor’s additional charges during his time on supervised probation. He decided to wait for the results of Proctor’s withstanding cases and then evaluate whether or not he is a risk to the community.

Proctor will remain held in DC jail until Sept. 17, when he is due back in court.