Judge Holds Three Defendants During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 10, 2020
Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge held three defendants in jail during initial hearings on Dec. 9.

Ernest Cleveland, 27, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed in one case and assault with a dangerous weapon in another case. Cleveland is accused of shooting 39-year-old Edward Pearson and assaulting another individual on Nov. 26. In his other case, Cole is accused of assaulting a female victim with a firearm on Dec. 8. 

Clevland allegedly shot both Pearson and the other male inside an apartment on the 2900 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW on Thanksgiving day. The second victim survived.

In the second offense, according to court documents, Cleveland was riding in a vehicle with another suspect and a woman who was completing Postmates deliveries. When officers responded to the sounds of gunshots, they found the woman who had been shot in the head and could only communicate with officers through writing with pen and paper.

Due to the possibility of Cleveland being a danger to the community, the judge decided to hold him in DC jail in both cases until his next hearing on Dec. 30.

Andrew Shuff, 26, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for an offense that occurred June 9 on the 1600 block of Ridge Street, SE. Shuff is accused of shooting at the victim in a vehicle after the victim declined to buy narcotics from him and refused to move his car. 

Shuff failed to appear at his hearing on Oct. 5, so he was brought in on a bench warrant. Judge Sean Staples released him in this case with a new court date of Feb. 10, 2021, but Shuff was held on a separate arrest warrant matter.

Carlton Cole,17, is charged with armed robbery for an offense that occurred on Dec. 7 on the 500 block of Kentucky Avenue, SE. Cole, along with another suspect, is accused of taking the victim’s cell phone and wallet while armed with an unloaded BB gun. Cole along with a co-defendant, are both juveniles who appeared in court remotely from the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS)

When Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene after a call about a robbery, they approached Cole and the other suspect as they were walking away from the crime scene. The two suspects fled in different directions before being apprehended by the police. 

Cole has a previous charge of the same offense from 2019. The judge decided to release Cole on this charge into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with GPS monitoring. However, Cole will be held on the previous charge of armed robbery.

Judge Staples released five defendants charged in domestic violence misdemeanor cases. Three of the defendants were given stay away orders in reference to the alleged victims, and one of the defendants was served with a Temporary Protective Order (TPO).

One of these defendants was brought to court on a bench warrant for failing to appear at a probation show cause hearing. The underlying charge in his case was contempt. 

Two additional defendants are charged with being fugitives from Maryland and Pennsylvania.

The defendant from Maryland was ordered to turn himself in to authorities there on Nov. 11, but court records showed that he didn’t. However, the defendant had paperwork showing that he did turn himself in, and after contacting Maryland authorities, the defendant was released. 

The second defendant charged with being a fugitive from justice is wanted in Pennsylvania for violating her parole by picking up a shoplifting charge. Judge Staples released the defendant and ordered her to turn herself in to Pennsylvania authorities. 

Judge Staples released ten defendants charged with felonies. Their charges include armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, carrying a pistol without a license, contempt and bench warrants with underlying felony cases. 

Of the felony defendants, two defendants appeared in court from the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS). Both defendants are charged with armed robbery, in separate cases.

The first defendant was co-defendants with Cole, who was charged with armed robbery and held in another case. The second defendant was charged after he allegedly brandished an unloaded BB gun while ordering the victim to hand over his wallet. 

Judge Staples also released five defendants who were charged with various misdemeanors. Their charges include GPS tampering, failure to register as a sex offender, violation of a TPO, attempted threats, sexual abuse and threats to do bodily harm. 

There were four defendants who were charged with traffic offenses. Two defendants are charged with DUI, and one of these defendants is also charged with leaving after a collision.

The other defendants had charges including driving without a permit and failing to appear at traffic arraignment.

Judge Staples released all of these defendants.