Judge Puts Defendant on GPS Monitoring

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 14, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Probation | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge put a defendant who had been noncompliant with probation on GPS monitoring.

Malik Hall pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license on Nov. 20, 2019. He was sentenced to six months in jail, all of which were suspended, and one year of probation. His sentenced fell under the Youth Rehabilitation Act. 

A Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) officer said Hall’s compliance has been “very bad.”

The defendant’s only condition of probation is to telephone CSOSA twice a week. However, he has been a loss of contact from March 23 until April 27 and from June 22 until the Aug. 13 hearing.

Hall said he initially was not in compliance because he lost his phone and could not get in contact with CSOSA.

The prosecution asked for GPS monitoring as a way to ensure the defendant’s compliance.

Defense attorney Damon Catacalos opposed the request, citing the defendant’s job where he practically works full-time.

According to court documents, while on patrol on Aug. 26, 2019, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers saw Hall attempting to walk away from police. While he was walking, he was grabbing his waistband as if he was attempting to secure an object from shifting. 

An MPD officer approached a man near the defendant, saying, “Hey my man hold up real quick, I’ve got to talk to you.” At this point, Hall fled the scene and tossed objects from his waistband on the 1500 block of U Street, SE.

HePolice later apprehended the defendant. A semi-automatic firearm was found in the area the defendant threw things.

Hall’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25.

“If I get another unfavorable report then, it’s going to be worse than an ankle monitor,” Judge Rainey Brandt said.