New Attorney Appointed to Represent Defendant Accused of Armed Sexual Assault

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A man indicted on 21 charges including first-degree sexual abuse while armed was appointed a new lawyer due to a conflict of interest that precluded the DC Public Defender Service from representing him.

The victim was sitting in her vehicle in the Garfield Heights neighborhood on the night of March 20, 2018, when the 21-year-old defendant allegedly approached her with a handgun and ordered her to open the door. He then allegedly made the victim drive to an alley and raped her before forcing her to drive to Anacostia Park, take her clothes off and jump into a body of water.

Criminal Justice Act Panel attorney Andrew Ain was appointed to replace public defender Joseph Wong during the most recent hearing for this case on April 25 due to a conflict of interest with the PDS.

Prior to the change in counsel, the defendant asked DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan to release him from DC Jail. Judge Raffinan told him his newly appointed attorney would have to file a motion for his release.

“I can file the motion myself,” the defendant said. “I never needed a lawyer in the first place. I just want to go home to my mother.”

After parties were dismissed from the hearing, the defendant explained to those left in the room how he felt betrayed.

“Look, judge, I just want to go home to my mom. I went through a trial and nothing happened. I should at least be able to go into home confinement,” the defendant said. “You told me to trust you, and I did. So why you cannot trust me?”

Judge Raffinan told the defendant that he should direct any questions about the case to his lawyer. Another status hearing is scheduled for May 16.

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