A carjacking defendant pleaded not guilty and was granted less restrictive release conditions during an arraignment on Sept. 5 before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld.
Dale Benjamin, 38, is charged with armed carjacking, robbery while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in an incident on Sept. 15, 2024 at a BP gas station on the 4400 block of Benning Road, NE.
According to court documents, Benjamin allegedly threatened the victim with a handgun and seized his moped.
At the arraignment, Antoini Jones, Benjamin’s attorney, informed Judge Hertzfeld that Benjamin pleaded not guilty to all charges and asserted his rights to a speedy trial.
Jones also requested the court eliminate Benjamin’s GPS monitoring and extend his curfew to accommodate his employment schedule.
The prosecution argued to keep the GPS release condition and detain Benjamin in order to protect the community, adding that he has prior convictions, one involving a firearm. He also noted that the evidence backing his current charges is “substantial ”
“He’s jumped back in the deep end,” given these charges, the prosecutor stated.
The prosecution said that Benjamin is fairly unrestricted because he is currently on release, while most defendants with the same charges are detained.
Judge Hertzfeld maintained that a GPS requirement is one of the least restrictive conditions and decided to not amend it.
“It looks like you’re a hardworking guy from this,” Judge Hertzfeld noted as she read documentation that detailed Benjamin’s work hours.
Benjamin said, “I don’t mind going on GPS,” and stressed his request to adjust his curfew.
Judge Hertzfeld granted the request and said she thinks the amended curfew would be fair because he will be contributing to society by going to work.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene Sept. 29.
