Judge Takes Domestic Violence Defendant Charged with Stalking off GPS Monitoring

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 10, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge granted a motion to take a domestic violence defendant off GPS monitoring. 

The defendant is charged with stalking. During the Nov. 9 hearing, Judge Maribeth Raffinan heard arguments from defense attorney Joseph Wong as well as the prosecution, who opposed the motion. 

The prosecutor argued that the GPS was acting as a deterrent for the defendant. 

“The main concern is the nature of the allegations,” the prosecutor said. 

The defendant allegedly, on three separate occasions, called 911 to report that there was a man with a gun at the victim’s house. The police responded to the calls only to find the allegations were not credible. 

The defendant is also alleged to have called the victim and threatened to kill her once her GPS monitor was removed. However, Wong disputed the allegation. 

“We absolutely deny that any such threat was made,” he said. 

Judge Raffinan ultimately allowed the defendant to remove the monitor. 

“I do think, based upon her compliance with the GPS thus far [she will be] in compliance with the stay away no contact [order],” she said

The defendant will no longer be under the  High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). Instead, she must report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) and return to court for her next hearing, which is scheduled for Jan. 28. She must also continue complying with the stay away-no contact order.

Emily Pengelly wrote this article