Judge Reschedules Hearing for Burglary Defendants

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On Aug. 12, a DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a status hearing for two defendants because they recently received new defense counsel.

Antonni Flores-Diaz and Ryan Harding are charged with second-degree burglary for allegedly stealing items from a storage room of a residential building on the 1900 block of 3rd Street, NW on April 8. .

New defense counsel was appointed for the defendants on Aug. 10 after Flores-Diaz, 36, requested a Spanish-speaking attorney. The co-defendants were also considering a plea offer, but said they were not satisfied with their legal representation. The plea offer’s deadline has been extended.

Flores-Diaz, who is also known as Spongie, was released on April 11, but was re-arrested on April 14 and has been held in DC Jail since then . He is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly trying to fight someone with a knife on April 14 on the 3100 block of Mount Pleasant Street, NW.

The defendant was also charged with contempt on April 30.

Harding, 24, has been held in DC Jail since April 10.

“We have not had a chance to speak with our clients yet,” Harding’s attorney, Andrew Ain, said. “We will need at least two weeks to properly converse with the defendants.”

Flores-Diaz’s new attorney, Rachel McCoy, was in agreement.

Judge Rainey Brandt rescheduled the hearing to Aug. 26.