Judge Reinstates Probation for Firearms Conviction

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 17, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Probation | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge re-instated a defendant’s probation and scheduled an in-person sentencing hearing for Oct. 1. 

In September 2017, Georgio Hyles was sentenced to 24 months, all of which were suspended, plus 24 months of probation for unlawful possession of ammunition. He was sentenced to 12 months, all of which were suspended, plus 12 months of probation for possession of an unregistered firearm. The sentences ran consecutively and were passed under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA.)

Judge Hiram E. Puig-Lugo decided to revoke Hyles’ probation due to non-compliance on Feb. 6. During the Sept. 17 hearing, he re-instated the probation. This time, the defendant must comply with a Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA) intervention plan. 

Judge Puig-Lugo ordered Hyles to appear in-person in two weeks for a sentencing hearing. Hyles will remain released in the meantime. 

Hyles picked up the case in 2016 after being caught carrying a pistol outside an establishment without a license. He was sentenced to 24 months of probation in 2017 under the conditions that he regularly check-in with the Pretrial Services Agency and remain within the DC city limits.

The prosecution was concerned with an alleged probation violation which claimed Hyles was in possession of a firearm. 

Defense attorney Frances M D’Antuono said her client has not violated his probation by being in possession of a firearm. However, she conceded that he was occasionally non-compliant with other conditions of his probation because of extenuating circumstances. 

A CSOSA representative said Hyles has committed several probation violations which include failing to report to supervision, failing to comply with mental health, GPS and curfew violations, and possession of a firearm in 2019. 

“We don’t find Mr. Hyles takes probation seriously,” a CSOSA representative said. 

D’Antuono said the reason Hyles picked up the case in the first place was because he believed people were trying to take his life. 

On June 19,  Hyles was shot and required three surgeries to heal his shatter leg and injuries to his knee. 

The following month, allegedly, the same people who shot him in June tried to kill him at his home. Hyles broke probation and fled to Maryland. D’Antuono said he did this because he feared for his life. 

CSOSA said that, even after the shootings, it was difficult to contact Hyles to verify both his safety and location. 

Hyles refused victim services. 

Judge Puig-Lugo found many of Hyles’ probation violations, including his alleged possession of a firearm, occurred prior to both shootings. 

“Nothing has changed…I have been hearing the same story for three years,” said Judge Puig-Lugo.

While Judge Puig-Lugo said he believes that Hyles being a victim of two shooting is tragic, it does not excuse probation violations.