Judge Issues Warrant for Domestic Violence Defendant’s Arrest

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 17, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a domestic violence defendant who lost contact with both the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) and his defense attorney.

The defendant is charged with assault on a police officer and simple assault in the domestic violence case. He is also charged with assault on a police officer and unlawful entry in another case. Both of these cases are misdemeanors that the defendant picked up last year.

The defendant did not show up to his last hearing on Jan. 11 either, but he apparently was not notified about it. Judge Maribeth Raffinan issued a judicial summons.

When the defendant did not show up to his Feb. 16 hearing, the prosecution requested a bench warrant.

Defense attorney Sean Coleman said it’s hard to ask Judge Raffinan not to issue a bench warrant but still requested that she hold off on doing so until the next hearing, which Coleman says his client “definitely” knows about.

Coleman said he is trying to find the defendant and has an investigator on the matter.

Judge Raffinan, pointing out that the defendant has received judicial notice, decided it would be appropriate to issue a bench warrant. However, she said that if Coleman can walk his client into court, they can address the situation.

The next hearing is scheduled for June 17.