Judge Holds Half of the Defendants During Initial Hearings

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

On Sept. 3, DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell released 11 defendants and held 11 defendants in DC Jail during their initial hearings.

Jaz Pratt is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly participating in a violent shooting on the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE on Aug. 21. Judge Crowell held Pratt due to the severity of the crime and because he committed it while on release for another case, in which he is charged with carrying a pistol without a license.

“I understand that the defendant does not have a long criminal history, but what he has done in the last 5 months is very serious,” Judge Crowell said.

Chistopher Mitchell is held on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for allegedly fleeing a traffic stop while in possession of a gun on Sept. 2. In another case, Mitchell has been wanted by police since April 3, when he escaped a penal institution. 

Dwayne Washington is charged with simple assault for allegedly sexually assaulting at least one individual on the 700 block of H Street, NW on Sept. 2. Judge Crowell held Washington, citing his long, repeated criminal history and that the alleged offense was committed while on release in another case.

Roneka Lewis is held on charges of simple assault, possession of a prohibited weapon, and destruction of property less than $1,000 for allegedly breaking a woman’s phone and attempting to stab her. Lewis has several open cases and has violated her release conditions for those cases several times. 

“The escalating violence is a particular concern,” said Judge Crowell. “She has also violated her release conditions multiple times, the most concerning being her failure to appear for a mental health assessment.” 

Rachon Bethea is held as a fugitive from justice. He is charged with failure to appear for a homicide case in Maryland. He will be held for three business days until the demanding jurisdiction retrieves him, or he will have another hearing in DC to discuss his release. 

Clifton Smith was brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear to a hearing in July to discuss his noncompliance with pretrial release conditions. In the case, Smith is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and assault with a dangerous weapon. Judge Crowell held Smith, citing many court order violations, including stay-away orders, curfews, drug testing and GPS monitoring device tampering.

Zharmel Blount is charged with receiving stolen property. The prosecution was amenable to his release, so Judge Crowell released him in his new case, but he was held on another warrant matter.

Judge Crowell also held four defendants charged with domestic violence offenses.

The first defendant is charged with contempt for violating a stay-away order by calling the alleged victim in another case 19 times. Judge Crowell held the defendant, citing that the “court’s order is unambiguous” and the defendant’s other pending case involves assault.

The second domestic violence defendant held is also charged with contempt. The defendant has two other pending domestic violence cases involving the same complainant. Judge Crowell held the defendant, citing his noncompliance with GPS monitoring and said, “He’s been told not to contact this person and keeps doing it.”

The third defendant is charged with simple assault. Judge Crowell held the defendant, citing his three additional open domestic violence cases and the fact that he is on probation for violating a Temporary Protective Order (TPO) in 2019.

The fourth defendant is also charged with simple assault. Judge Crowell held the defendant as he has two additional pending cases with the same victim. “He appears incapable of complying with court orders.”

Of those released, one defendant did not have charges filed.

Two defendants, charged with being fugitives from justice out of Virginia and Maryland, were released by Judge Crowell with orders to turn themselves in to authorities within the next 24 hours. One of the defendants is also charged with simple assault and second-degree theft in a domestic violence case and was given a stay-away order.

Four defendants charged with felonies were released by Judge Crowell. Two of the defendants were given stay-away orders and one was given an order not to possess any firearms or ammunition while his case is pending.

Judge Crowell also released four misdemeanor defendants with various release conditions. One of the defendants, charged with simple assault, was released on GPS monitoring and was given a no harassing, assaultive, threatening or stalking (HATS) order. Another defendant was released into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with a stay-away order. The other two defendants were both given stay-away orders.

Finally, Judge Crowell presided over a status hearing for a defendant who was charged with being a fugitive from justice and has been in DC Jail since Aug. 29 in order for Maryland authorities to pick him up. The defendant was not picked up by Maryland, so the prosecution dismissed the charges, and he was released.