Judge Holds Five Out of 21 Defendants During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 7, 2020
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On Aug. 6, DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann released 16 defendants and held five during initial hearings.

Antwon Wilkins was held by the judge on a charge of armed carjacking. Wilkins’ defense attorney said he was being lumped in with others seen in video footage, but Judge Herrmann held him anyway, citing his “significant criminal history.” 

Robert Clark is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly pulling a knife on a man in a bathroom,. He was held because he has four pending cases, one of which is another assault case in DC.

Taquan Hardy was held on a charge of being a fugitive from justice, where he is wanted in Maryland for armed robbery with a gun. The defendant waived his hearing in DC for Maryland authorities to come pick him up within three business days.

Markus Kemp is charged with four cases. He is charged with two cases of being a fugitive from justice where he is wanted in Maryland for a probation violation and burglary. In his two additional cases, he is charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

Kemp’s defense attorney requested he be released into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP), but Judge Herrmann found him too dangerous to be released.

The final defendant that was held is charged with simple assault in a domestic violence case. Judge Herrmann held the defendant, citing that he violated a stay-away order by being near the victim in this case.

Of those released, four were not charged by the prosecution.

There were five additional domestic violence cases heard by Judge Herrmann. She released all of them with stay-away orders from the victims.

Five misdemeanor cases were heard, involving charges of possession of cocaine, simple assault, failure to register as a sex offender and assault on a police officer. All defendants were released under the supervision of the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA). One was given a stay-away order, as well.

Three felony charges involving carrying firearms were released by Judge Herrmann. Two of the defendants were given stay-away orders and one was also put on GPS monitoring.

Two defendants were charged with vehicle-related offenses, and one was released with orders not to drive in DC at all.

One defendant was brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear for his probation hearing. He was released with a new court date.

A defendant charged with second-degree theft has been in the hospital since July 20, so his hearing has been moved again to Aug. 7.