Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Domestic Violence Defendant

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A DC Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for a domestic violence defendant who the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) deemed a loss of contact.

At the time of her arrest in this case, Paulette Riggins was released on GPS monitoring while waiting to be sentenced for robbery. She pleaded guilty on March 13. She has been on release since Feb. 14.

During the Aug. 10 hearing, a PSA representative said that Riggins has not charged her GPS since July 15 and has not contacted PSA since March.

Defense attorney Edward Gain asked Judge Michael O’Keefe to give his client more time to appear before the court. However, Judge O’Keefe denied the request and issued a bench warrant for her arrest.

Riggins is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 28 unless both parties agree on an earlier date once the defendant is detained.