Murder Defendant Arraigned, Given New Counsel

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After being arraigned on six counts, a murder defendant was appointed a new attorney due to reported conflict between him and his former lawyer.

Jerome Alexander is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a license. The 27-year-old is accused of shooting 28-year-old Richard Washington during the course of a robbery on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE, on Dec. 19, 2019. 

Defense attorney Anthony Matthews motioned to withdraw as Alexander’s attorney back in May. In the motion, he states that “the relationship between counsel and Mr. Alexander has devolved to one of oppositional hostility and mistrust on the part of Mr. Alexander.”

During the Aug. 10 hearing, Kristin McGough was appointed as Alexander’s new attorney. She entered a plea of not guilty on her new client’s behalf and requested a status hearing, which Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled for Nov. 12.

Alexander is being held at DC Jail. 

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