Judge Holds Juvenile Murder Defendant During Initial Hearing

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 9, 2021
Featured | Homicides | Juveniles | Suspects | Victims |

During initial hearings on Feb. 8, DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe presided over a total of 28 cases.

Of the 28 cases, there were 8 domestic violence cases, two sexual abuse cases and one murder case.

Judge Pipe held Nelfy Hernandez, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed. Hernandez, 17, is alleged to have shot blindly into a group of juveniles on the 5500 block of 9th Street, NW, fatally shooting 17-year-old Taijhon Wyatt, Jr. on Aug. 10 of 2020.

Hernandez’s defense attorney, Lisbeth Sapirstein, requested the judge to not find probable cause, saying that Hernandez is alleged to have been in the passenger seat of the vehicle, and there is no evidence that the person in that seat shot anyone.

The prosecution, however, said there is a witness who said that Hernandez had both his own gun as well as the witness’ gun. Two different shell casings were found, which suggests that there were two shooters and one driver.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Pipe said she found substantial probability that Hernandez committed the offense. She decided to hold Hernandez, saying the offense was clearly “very well planned out, premeditated,” given the fact that a vehicle was stolen hours before the shooting occurred, which was then allegedly used in the offense. 

Hernandez will be held in the custody of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) until his next hearing, which is scheduled for March 1.

Judge Pipe also held a defendant who failed to appear for his hearings in four open cases. In one of the cases, the defendant is charged with first-degree child sex abuse in one case and simple assault in domestic violence cases. 

The judge decided that the defendant should be held at the jail to be seen by the presiding judge in his cases in February.

Judge Pipe held another domestic violence defendant who is charged with simple assault. The defendant is on probation for two additional domestic violence cases for which he was convicted of simple assault and contempt. 

The defendant’s convictions involve the same complaining witness. Judge Pipe said she was not inclined to release him. The defendant will be held at the jail until his next hearing, which is scheduled for Feb. 23.

Judge Pipe released eight defendants charged in either domestic violence or sex abuse cases.

The charges in these cases include assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted second-degree cruelty to children, simple assault, contempt, first-degree child sex abuse, attempted threats to do bodily harm, violation of a Civil Protection Order (CPO) and second-degree cruelty to children.

Seven of the defendants were given stay-away orders, while additional release conditions included a no harassing, assaulting, threatening or stalking (HATS) order, orders not to drive at all, GPS monitoring and an order to not be in the presence of any minor children unsupervised.

The released defendants will return to court in July for their next hearings.