Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Defendant Who Is A Loss of Contact

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 1, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for a defendant who has come out of compliance with his pretrial release conditions and did not show up to his court hearing.

Kelonii Malloy, 23, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license. On May 15, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrested him on the 300 block of Delafield Place, NW.

During the July 31 hearing, a Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative said Malloy has not contacted them by phone since June 12. 

According to court documents, Malloy took an “unprovoked flight” stance upon seeing officers on the street and fled to a nearby unoccupied basement. Officers allege that they found a pistol on the ground behind a heating unit that the defendant was standing next to.

Defense attorney Chidi Ogolo said he has not been able to contact the defendant, who does not have a cell phone. He also said that his client is homeless due to a Civil Protection Order (CPO) barring him from what had previously been his place of residence. 

Ogolo objected to the bench warrant, saying there is no indication that his client received notice to appear in court. 

However, Judge Julie Becker responded by pointing to Malloy’s previous ability to stay in contact with pretrial services for nearly a month after his initial release in mid-May.