Judge Holds Murder Defendant During Presentments

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 21, 2021
Featured | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

On April 20, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nolan released 15 defendants and held three at DC Jail during their initial hearings.

There were a total of two domestic violence cases and one homicide case presented before Judge Nolan. Of these cases, he held two of the defendants.

Judge Nolan held 20-year-old Roberto Cayetano-Mejia who is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the Nov. 7, 2020, death of 19-year-old Franklin Hernandez-Arevalo. 

Cayetano-Mejia’s attorney, Rachel McCoy, argued that the various witness reports were conflicting, and that one of the witnesses was suspected of being involved in the murder and thus their report may be “self interested.” McCoy also said social media profiles that have been used as evidence have not definitively been verified to be related to her client.

The prosecution argued that there was enough evidence for probable cause because multiple witnesses put Cayetano-Mejia at the crime scene which is also corroborated by the GPS monitor he was wearing at the time. They also said Cayetano-Mejia was later stopped in Kentucky with a gun that had shell casings found at the scene of the crime.

Judge Nolan agreed with the prosecution, finding probable cause, and decided to hold Cayetano-Mejia based on his criminal history, history of non-compliance and the fact that Cayetano-Mejia fled to Kentucky indicating he is a flight risk. His next hearing is scheduled for May 12.

The other defendant who was held is charged with contempt in a domestic violence case after violating a stay away order.

Judge Nolan noted the defendant had been ordered twice before to stay away from the complainant and to come into compliance with the stay away order. The defendant was just before the court on April 19 for violating a stay away order. He decided to hold the defendant based on her inability to follow court orders and the fact that this would be the third violation.

Her next hearing is scheduled for May 12.

The other domestic violence defendant is charged with simple assault. He was released and ordered to stay away from the victim and a location. He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 26.