Judge Holds Eight Defendants During Presentments

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 20, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge held eight defendants, releasing 17 during initial hearings on Nov. 20. 

Antoine Royster, 42, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for stabbing two victims on the 1400 block of Florida Avenue, NW.  

According to court documents, the offense took place on Nov. 19, when one victim was approached and stabbed by Royster while on a cell phone. Royster then saw the second victim and stabbed him as well. 

Due to the seriousness of the crime, Judge Renee Raymond decided to hold Royster. His next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 10. 

Demarko Allen, 20, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device. 

On the night of Sept. 23, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer observed Allen on a live Instagram video. During the video, Allen was allegedly seen holding a semi-automatic handgun while dancing. The MPD officer, knowing Allen had a prior firearm conviction, arrested the defendant. 

The prosecution requested that Allen be held due to the continuous violation of his probation conditions. 

Judge Raymond granted the prosecution’s request, seeing Allen as a danger to the community. Allen will be held at the DC jail pending his next hearing on Dec. 10.  

Eric Hill is charged with threat to kidnap or injure a person. According to court documents, Hill, 56, allegedly called a local news channel and said he was going to go “shoot up” the court on Nov. 19. 

Hill’s defense attorney requested that he be released under supervision of the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) and GPS monitoring, but Judge Raymond denied his request. 

“I have very serious concerns and find no condition or combination of conditions will assure the safety of the community,” Judge Raymond said.  

Hill’s next hearing is set for Dec. 10. 

A fugitive from the state of Maryland is charged with sex abuse of a minor. The defendant  waived his right to an extradition hearing and will be held at the DC jail for three days while he waits for the demanding jurisdiction to come to pick him up. 

Judge Raymond held John King, who is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. 

At 11 p.m. on Nov. 11, MPD was informed that a shot spotter had detected four rounds fired on the 1600 block of Independence Avenue, SE. Upon arrival, the officers observed King, 34, with his arms outstretched with a teal and black handgun dangling from his fingertips.

After officers detained King, they discovered that he has a prior gun conviction, which makes it unlawful for him to possess a firearm. King’s defense attorney requested that King be released and put on GPS monitoring. 

Judge Raymond denied his request and held King at DC jail until his next hearing on Dec. 10.  

Among those held were two defendants charged with domestic-violence related crimes. They are both charged with simple assault, and Judge Raymond decided to hold them given their criminal histories. The defendants were issued stay-away orders for whenever they are released, and their next hearings are scheduled for Dec. 10.

Andtwne Anderson, 42, was held on a parole warrant.

The defendant was brought into court on bench warrants for failing to appear at his hearings. Judge Raymond released him on his pending cases, but he had a hold in the parole matter.

Of those who were released, four defendants are charged with being fugitives from justice. They were all released with orders to report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) weekly in addition to turning themselves in to the demanding jurisdictions, which are Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Additionally, one of the defendants is also charged with a misdemeanor for simple assault, and he was given a stay-away order in that case.

Three additional defendants charged with misdemeanors were also released. Their charges include possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, simple assault and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon. All three defendants were given stay-away orders.

Apart from the defendants that Judge Raymond held, there were six additional defendants charged in domestic violence cases. All six were given stay-away orders from the alleged victims or locations of the incidents, and three of the defendants were also put on GPS monitoring.

Judge Raymond also released two defendants charged with felonies, one defendant charged with a traffic offense and one defendant who was brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear.

An additional eight defendants had their charges dropped by the prosecution.

This article was written by Emily Pengelly and Krystin Roehl