Judge Issues Three Bench Warrants, Terminates One Probation

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 15, 2020
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A DC Superior Court judge issued three bench warrants, terminated one probation, modified one individual’s pretrial release conditions and continued four hearings on Sept. 14.

Judge Judith Smith issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a defendant on probation who did not appear in court.

Roger Coleman pleaded guilty to a DUI in May of 2019. He has had several probation violations and a bench warrant issued since then. Coleman also picked up a new case for driving without a permit on Aug. 28. 

Judge Smith also issued a bench warrant for Chantel Cooper, who is charged with simple assault. 

Cooper was released with orders to contact the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) and comply with a stay away order. She has been a loss of contact with PSA and did not show up to her hearing today.

Judge Smith also issued a bench warrant for Marcus Monroe after he failed to appear in court. 

Monroe is charged with distribution of a controlled substance following an undercover buy-bust operation that the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) conducted on March 19. Monroe has been a loss of contact for many months with pretrial services.

Alfred Johnson, 39, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance on Nov. 15, 2019. While on probation, he tested positive for PCP and had a GPS violation. However, he kept in contact with his probation officer. Since Johnson showed partial compliance with the terms of his six month probation term, Judge Smith allowed his probation to end. His probation has simply expired and it will not be listed as unsuccessful or successful.

Judge Smith increased a defendant’s pretrial release conditions to the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP.)

Christopher Liggins, 25, is charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in one case and contempt in another. He picked up the contempt charge for allegedly violating a stay away order.

Liggins, 25, was originally released on his promise to return to court with orders to report to PSA. However, Judge Smith said that, if the defendant is placed on HISP, he will be more likely to adhere to the pretrial release conditions. 

The judge gave Ariel Amaya, 23, another chance to the conditions of his probation. 

Amaya pleaded guilty to second-degree theft, destruction of property less than $1,000 and bail violation in June of 2020. He received one year supervised probation, to run concurrently, for all three cases. Conditions of his probation included attending a drug treatment program, obtaining alcohol treatment and reporting to Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) after his release. 

Amaya failed to contact CSOSA. Judge Smith scheduled a another probation show cause hearing to give him time to come into compliance.

David Neysmith, 36, pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree burglary. A probation review hearing was set for Nov. 6. He was given one year supervised probation with the conditions to maintain or seek employment, obtain a GED, not use alcohol or narcotic substances, including marijuana and complete a substance abuse treatment program for returning prisoners.

A notice of noncompliance was filed on Aug. 31. 

The judge ordered the defendant to stay in the D.C. jurisdiction and abide by his current probation terms. Neysmith was also ordered to contact his probation officer about a probation transfer to New York. 

Judge Smith scheduled a continued pretrial show cause hearing for a defendant who did not show up to cour Moses Bell is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance. The pretrial services agency said they had no contact information for the defendant and that he has been deemed a loss of contact. 

Bell has reportedly been held at the Prince William County, Va. Adult Detention Center since Sept. 1. As a result, a continued pretrial show cause hearing was scheduled for Nov. 17. 

Finally, Judge Smith re-referred Danyell Gatewood, who was convicted of simple assault, to anger management classes.

A probation violation was filed against Gatewood because she was terminated from her court-ordered anger management program. Judge Smith noted that Gatewood has complied with the majority of the terms of her probation as she has not tested positive for any illicit substances and has no violations of the stay away order. 

Judge Smith scheduled a probation show cause hearing for Nov. 18 to see if Gatewood completes the course.