Judge Issues 3 Bench Warrants During Pretrial, Probation Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 15, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Probation | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge presided over nine pretrial and probation show cause hearings on Oct. 14.

Judge Danya Dayson issued bench warrants for the arrests of Anthony Horton, Shawd Tucker and Davon Reddick after they failed to appear in court. All three of them have lost contact with the court and their attorneys. 

Horton, 36, is charged with possession of the drug ecstasy, which is also called Molly, and contempt in one case, and  bail violation in another. 

According to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA,) he has only reported to them three times since March. 

Horton’s attorney, Clarence Powell, asked Judge Dayson for more time to get in touch with his client. However, Judge Dayson denied the request due to Horton’s history of not showing up to court. 

Tucker, 22, is charged with unlawful entry and shoplifting in two different cases.

A PSA representative said Tucker is homeless, but he has failed to comply with his reporting requirements. 

Defense attorney Kevin Kassees said he can occasionally get in touch with Tucker’s family members but hasn’t been able to contact his client. 

Reddick is serving one year of probation for simple assault and attempted threats to do bodily harm. 

According to the Court Services Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), Reddick’s whereabouts have been unknown since his release. His attorney, Susan Ellis, has also not been able to contact him. 

Judge Dayson discharged Lamar Caldwell and Maya Goldsmith’s show cause hearings since they have started coming into compliance with their release conditions.

Caldwell is charged with possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2021.

Goldsmith, 31, is charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm. 

The defendant did not show up to her hearing, which prompted the prosecution to request a bench warrant. 

However, according to the PSA representative, Goldsmith has been in compliance since September.

Goldsmith’s attorney, Heather Shaner, told Judge Dayson that her client has requested a new attorney. 

Judge Dayson took note of that and, despite her absence, discharged the hearing. 

Goldsmith’s next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2021. 

Judge Dayson also continued a hearing for a defendant, so it could trail his new arrests.

Antonio Ortiz is serving 18 months of probation for driving under the influence in his second offense. 

According to CSOSA, Ortiz, 54, was re-arrested for a DUI and failed to attend a victim impact panel. The defense requested that this case trail his new cases. Judge Dayson granted the request

Judge Dayson scheduled Ortiz’s next hearing for March 10. 

Judge Dayson issued a judicial warning to Terwayne Brown, who is charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. 

Brown, 29, has been a loss of contact with the PSA. Brown’s attorney, Damon Catacalos, said his client has left voicemails to his Probation Service Officer, but he has not been called back.

Catacalos asked Judge Dayson for more time to get his client into full compliance. 

Judge Dayson granted the request but warned Brown to start reporting consistently. She scheduled Brown’s next hearing for Nov. 10. 

Judge Dayson continued a case in order to give time for the attorney to locate her client.

Shanti Parson, 68, is charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, assault, and bail violations in five different cases.

Parson’s attorney, Jacqueline Williams, has not been able to contact her client because she does not have a working number for her. However, she asked for more time to try to locate her.

“She was released during the height of COVID and she has a serious condition that could be deadly if she were to contract COVID,” said Williams. “She has no re-arrests…I currently don’t have a working number for her and she has no stable housing.”

Williams asked for a few weeks to track down her client using a private investigator.

Judge Dayson scheduled Parson’s next case for Oct. 28.

Judge Dayson put a defendant in the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) because of new arrests in Prince George’s County, Md.  

Alicia McCoy is charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm, attempted obstruction of justice and perjury in two cases. 

The PSA, asked for McCoy to be placed on HISP because of new arrests for assault and gun charges. 

McCoy’s attorney, Alicia McCoy, argued that her client has been in communication with the PSA and the new charges are only allegations. 

However, Judge Dayson took the PSA’s recommendation. 

“Due to the serious allegations, I think HISP is appropriate,” said Judge Dayson. “I’m giving her until Friday to get the GPS installed.”

Judge Dayson scheduled McCoy’s next hearing for Oct. 19 to make sure the defendant got the GPS installed.