Judge Releases Three Domestic Violence Defendants During Initial Hearings

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During initial hearings on April 22, DC Superior Court Judge Nolan Lloyd, Jr. released three domestic violence defendants.

The first defendant is charged with simple assault, allegedly involving his wife. The defense requested the judge release the defendant due to his limited recent criminal record. The judge agreed, releasing the defendant on his own recognizance with a stay-away order from the alleged victim.

The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 28.

The second defendant is charged with simple assault, resisting arrest, escape from an officer, and destruction of property less than $1,000. The prosecution requested the judge hold the defendant due to the defendant’s criminal history. 

The judge disagreed with the prosecution, saying the record showed the defendant was in compliance in previous cases and provided evidence that he is a candidate to be released rather than held at the jail. 

The judge released the defendant with the order to stay away from the alleged victims and the location of the incident. 

The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 28.

The last defendant is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. 

The defense requested the release of the defendant due to her limited criminal record, consisting mostly of misdemeanors with a history of compliance with court conditions. 

The prosecution argued the assault occurred in front of a child and the defendant is a risk to the victim and the community.

The judge disagreed with the prosecution again, stating that this incident did not warrant being held at the jail as long as the defendant continued to be compliant. The judge ordered the defendant to be released with stay-away orders from the alleged victims, GPS monitoring and continued mental health treatment. 

The defendant is scheduled to return to court on April 23 for a review hearing.

This article was written by Alaina Provenza