Judge Holds Seven Defendants During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 12, 2020
Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge held seven defendants and released twelve during initial hearings on Dec. 11. 

Mohamed Goodwin is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting and killing 25 year-old Devonte Wilson.

On Dec. 3, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a traffic incident that occurred on the 700 block of Morton Street, NE. Upon arrival, they found Wilson suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. He was immediately taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead the next day due to the severe nature of his injuries. 

The police were able to identify Goodwin, 32, with the help of surveillance footage and multiple eyewitness testimonies. 

Goodwin’s defense attorney, Lee Smith, requested that the defendant be placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).

The prosecution argued against this request, saying that he is a flight risk and should be held. 

“The defendant is on pretrial release for a gun case. There is evidence of flight–he was in Indianapolis but came back,” the prosecution said. 

Judge Sean Staples granted the prosecution’s request and held Goodwin. Goodwin’s next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 30. 

A 23-year-old male defendant is charged with assault with intent to commit robbery while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. The defendant is also charged with simple assault from a domestic violence case. 

On the evening of Dec. 10, on the 500 block of R Street, NW, the defendant allegedly approached a victim, attempting to rob them while brandishing a handgun. MPD officers happened to be driving by and were able to stop the robbery from taking place. 

Judge Staples held the defendant without bail given the seriousness of the allegations. The defendant will be held at DC jail until his next court hearing. 

Irving Hutchinson is charged with simple assault in a felony case and has an outstanding bench warrant for failure to appear in a misdemeanor case.  

According to court documents, on Dec. 10, Hutchinson, 24, approached and robbed a victim at Union Station, located on the unit block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE. The victim reported the incident to nearby police, who were able to locate Hutchinson quickly. 

Hutchinson will be held at DC jail until his next hearing, which will occur on Dec. 30. 

Judge Staples also held Robert Bland, who is charged with felony contempt for repeatedly violating a stay-away order. 

Bland, 54, has been ordered to stay away from a location in several cases in which he is accused of dealing heroin.

The prosecution noted that Bland has six pending cases, with five of those cases taking place during the past three months. 

“He has been given enough opportunities, and he will be held no bond,” Judge Staples said. 

Bland will be held at the DC jail until his next hearing, which is scheduled for Dec. 30. 

Jackson Brian is charged with being a fugitive from justice from the state of Florida. Brian failed to appear in DC for his extradition hearing on Dec. 9, so he is being held at DC jail until authorities from Florida can pick him up. 

Among those held is Mark Burnett, who is charged with second-degree burglary for allegedly stealing a pack of cigarettes from a victim who was apparently unconscious. Burnett, 31, is also charged with being a fugitive from justice from the state of Maryland. Burnett will be held at DC jail in both cases. 

Leslie Hines is charged with being a fugitive from justice from the state of Maryland. He is also charged with prison breach. Hines, 39, was released in his prison escape case, but Judge Staples held him in the fugitive matter for Maryland authorities to retrieve him within three business days. 

Of the 12 defendants that Judge Staples released, five were charged with misdemeanors. Some of the underlying charges were the distribution of a controlled substance, destruction of property less than $1,000 and attempted threats to do bodily harm. All defendants were ordered to report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA). They are instructed to come back to court on May 14, 2021. 

Four defendants charged with felonies were released. The majority of the charges included the distribution of a controlled substance or unlawful possession of a firearm. They are all ordered to report to PSA. One defendant was ordered to get a GPS monitoring device installed. 

Two fugitives from the state of Virginia were released with orders to turn themselves in to the appropriate authorities. 

One defendant charged with a traffic offense was released and ordered to come back to court on May 14, 2021. 

A hearing was also continued to Dec. 12 for a defendant who is in the hospital.

Emily Pengelly wrote this article.