Judge Holds One Defendant During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 23, 2020
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DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun released all but one of the 19 defendants who had their initial hearings on July 22. 

Three defendants were brought before the court on domestic violence charges. Two of them were released on their promise to return to court and ordered to stay away from the victims and locations of the alleged crimes. One of the released defendants was also placed on GPS monitoring.

The third domestic violence defendant was charged with simple assault and contempt of court for violating a release condition.

Judge Okun decided to hold the defendant, saying he cannot ensure the safety of the community and the victim with his release.

Four defendants were charged in fugitive cases. Three of the four fugitives have cases in Maryland, and the other fugitive has a case in Texas. Judge Okun decided to release all four defendants, ordering them to turn themselves in to their respective jurisdictions. 

Two defendants appeared on bench warrants. One of the defendants is charged with second-degree theft, and the other is charged with second-degree burglary. 

Judge Okun quashed the bench warrants and released the defendants on their promises to return to court. In the burglary case, Judge Okun ordered the defendant to stay away from the victim. 

Two defendants appeared in court for assault charges. One of the defendants was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. The other defendant was charged with simple assault. 

Both defendants were released on their promises to return to court with stay away orders from the victims. The defendant charged with assault with a dangerous weapon case was also given a Temporary Protection Order (TPO).

Three defendants were brought before the court on a variety of possession charges. All three of the defendants were released into 21-day home confinement followed by placement under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP.) Additionally, one defendant was instructed not to drive without a valid permit or under the influence of alcohol or drugs because of a traffic case.

One defendant was charged with sexual abuse, and another defendant was charged with sexual solicitation. Both defendants were released on their promise to return to court,. The sexual abuse defendant was ordered to stay away from the victim.

One defendant was charged with simple assault and cruelty to animals. Judge Okun released the defendant on his promise to return to court and implemented a stay away order from the victim and the location of the alleged crime.

Another defendant was charged with tampering with a GPS monitoring device. Judge Okun said he was skeptical of the defendant’s explanation for the dysfunction of the device, but released him on his promise to return to court. Judge Okun said he did not order GPS monitoring again because the defendant already has a GPS tracking device in another case. 

Another defendant was brought before the court on a charge of possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device. The prosecution requested that the defendant be held, but Judge Okun also released the defendant because of his clean criminal record.

Most of the defendants who were released, excluding the fugitives, are scheduled return to court on Oct. 21.