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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- November 25, 2020
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On Nov. 24, DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna released 24 defendants, holding four defendants in DC Jail.
Donta Jones is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to court documents, Jones, 39, allegedly stabbed a man twice, once in the arm and once in the back, on Nov. 10. When officers arrested Jones for the offense on Nov. 23, they allegedly found 44 ounces of cocaine on him.
Judge McKenna decided to hold Jones at DC Jail pending his next hearing given his noncompliance in two additional pending cases as well as the serious nature of the assault allegations.
Rondale Edwards, who is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, was also held at the jail. Edwards, 19, allegedly stabbed a stranger on the metro on Nov. 23. Edwards’ defense attorney requested for his release, citing that he has a job, is receiving mental health treatment and has a 2-year-old child at home.
Judge McKenna said she considered placing him on GPS monitoring, but he has allegedly been noncompliant with GPS monitoring for another case. Jones also has two additional pending cases in DC.
Malik West is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance while armed. Documents state that West, 20, was stopped by officers in Northeast, DC, where they allegedly discovered a firearm as well as narcotics in his possession. According to court documents, West told the officers he keeps the gun for protection.
West’s defense counsel requested his release, citing his limited criminal history, which only includes one conviction. Judge McKenna denied the request and decided to hold West, saying he poses a threat to the community.
Judge McKenna also held Stephanie Tucker, who is charged with two new cases and was also brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear at her hearing in a pending case. In her two new cases, Tucker, 21, is charged with second-degree theft and simple assault. Judge McKenna said she decided to hold the defendant due to the serious allegations in the assault case and because the defendant has incurred “a lot of cases in a very short period of time.”
Of those who were released, four were charged on misdemeanors in domestic violence cases. Three of the defendants were given stay-away orders, though the fourth was reminded of a stay-away order that is already in place in another, pending case.
Judge McKenna released five defendants who are charged with felonies. The charges include carrying a pistol without a license, unlawful possession of liquid PCP, assault with a dangerous weapon and first-degree sexual abuse of a minor. Two of the defendants were ordered to wear GPS monitoring devices, while the defendant charged with sexual abuse was also ordered to 24-hour home confinement through the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).
Two defendants charged as fugitives from justice and one charged with a traffic offense were also released. The fugitives were ordered to turn themselves in to the demanding jurisdictions, and the traffic offense defendant was ordered not to drive without a valid license or after consuming alcohol or drugs.
Judge McKenna also released eight defendants charged with misdemeanors and four defendants brought in on bench warrants for failing to appear at their hearings. Five of the misdemeanor defendants were given stay-away orders while the rest were ordered to report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA).
One final defendant was still in the hospital, so his hearing was moved to Nov. 25.