Judge Holds Four Out of 31 Defendants During Initial Hearings

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On Aug. 18, DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell released 27 defendants and held four in DC jail.

Deon Hardy was brought in on two cases. In one case, he was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (synthetic cannabinoid), and he was charged with GPS tampering in the other case. Judge Crowell released him on his two new cases, but he was held on a parole warrant.

Judge Crowell also held three defendants who were charged with being fugitives from justice in Maryland. Jujuan Thomas is, wanted on a sex offense. Khalil Grooms and Kenneth Sedgwick are wanted for homicide and homicide, respectively. They all waived their hearings in DC court for Maryland authorities to come pick them up within three business days.

There were five additional fugitive cases presented before the judge. Judge Crowell released four with orders to turn themselves in to the demadning jurisdictions, and he dismissed one of the cases because the defendant had already been released from police custody.

Three defendants who are charged with domestic violence were released by Judge Crowell with either stay-away orders or no harassing, assaultive, threatening or stalking (HATS) orders related to the alleged victims.

There were eight additional misdemeanor cases and three felony cases. All of the defendants were released with various release conditions.

Three defendants came in on bench warrants for failing to appear at their hearings. They were released by the judge with new court dates.

Two defendants came in on citations and were released with new court dates, as well.

Two defendants who have been hospitalized were still in the hospital, so their hearings were moved to Aug. 19.

Of those released, three did not have charges filed against them by the prosecution.