DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel ordered a carjacking defendant to undergo inpatient drug treatment on March 20.
Manuel Alvarado, 42, is charged with unarmed carjacking for his alleged involvement in an incident on the 1500 block of 7th Street, NW on April 26, 2023.
According to court documents, the carjacking victim reported that Alvarado was noticeably under the influence of drugs during the incident.
At the hearing, the prosecution highlighted Alvarado’s violations of his pretrial release conditions. According to prosecutors, Alvarado violated his GPS tracking approximately 40 times, failed to remain at his designated residence, and repeatedly breached his 24-hour home confinement.
According to Alvarado’s attorney, Quiana Harris, many of the violations stemmed from misunderstandings of the conditions imposed. Harris explained that Alvarado would stop for food after required check-ins with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA), which resulted in multiple GPS alerts. Harris argued that the 24-hour home confinement was too restrictive for Alvarado, as he had responsibilities to assist his elderly aunt with whom he lives.
The prosecution emphasized Alvarado’s continued pattern of non-compliance, raising concerns about his ability to adhere to court ordered conditions moving forward.
Judge Israel imposed a modified curfew from 6 a. m. to 3 p. m. and ordered Alvarado to complete a 90-day residential drug treatment and detox program.
Parties are scheduled to return to court on April 24.
