Case Acquitted: Judge Reschedules Hearing For New Defense Attorney 

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness.
Help us continue our mission into 2025 by donating to our end of year campaign.

Donate Now

This case has been acquitted.

During a Nov. 9 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun rescheduled a status hearing for a homicide defendant after learning he was appointed a new defense attorney. 

Cedric Alexander, also known as 50-year-old Tony White, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business for his alleged role in the death of 38-year-old Daquan Hooks on the afternoon of March 23, 2017, on the 1900 block of 13th Street, SE. 

Defense attorney Sellano Simmons informed Judge Okun that he was just appointed to the case and needed another hearing scheduled to catch up and review the case.

The prosecution agreed with scheduling a new hearing. 

The prosecution also confirmed the detective, who was scheduled to testify, had been involved in a car accident. It will take a while before he can appear in court physically, the prosecutor said.

Judge Okun set a new hearing to give the defense enough time to catch up on the case, and the prosecutors enough time to check on the detective’s health as he would need to testify in person.

The new hearing is set for Dec. 14.