Stabbing Defendant Had to ‘Make a Decision to Protect My Life’

A stabbing defendant claimed self-defense in a dispute with the victim, who suffered 21 stab wounds, in trial arguments before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Nov. 6.

Devan Green Jr., 30, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, kidnapping while armed, kidnapping while armed against a minor, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and simple assault for his alleged involvement in a Sept. 19, 2023 stabbing incident on the 500 block of 58th Street, SE.

Green testified he was not the aggressor in the incident.

Both the victim and the defendant testified the altercation began because of the victim’s infidelity and Green’s attempting to pack up and leave.

Green confirmed that the victim entered their apartment speaking to someone he did not know on the phone. Green waited in the bathroom to try and ascertain who it might be before confronting the victim and heard her say, “He’s a great guy, but I’m a little detached.”

Green stated that he confronted the victim and learned that it was a man the victim had just met picking up her son from school. Hearing this, Green decided he wanted to leave the relationship.

Green testified he began packing his things and heard the victim state, “You don’t do anything for me,” adding that the victim was generally unaffected by Green’s leaving. In retaliation, Green began packing all of the items he had purchased for the victim as well, including a pair of work pants.

According to Green, there was a tug of war over a pair of pants when he was packing up and the victim fell to the floor and hit her head. While on the ground, she “bear hugged” herself around Green’s calf and allegedly bit him.

Green recalled a loud commotion outside the apartment from the victim’s family members, and was afraid they were setting him up, as they tried forcing their way into the apartment.

According to Green, there was a back and forth between unlocking and locking the locks from both sides of the door so Green barricaded the door with a bookstand, and a purple knife on top.

While moving the shelf under the doorknob, the purple kitchen knife fell to the floor, Green testified.

Green went to find the victim on the balcony of the apartment, seeing she was armed with a knife upon opening the door. Green claimed that he took one step toward the victim and she lunged at his throat with the knife in hand. Green blocked the blade, suffering a minor cut on his neck and bleeding from his hands as he was holding the blade to protect his throat.

Green testified he wrestled the knife away from the victim and set it down inside, telling the victim to call her family off, and leaving the room to comfort the victim’s child and put him in the bedroom with their dog.

When Green heard more thuds from outside the apartment’s main door he went to hold the door closed while the victim grabbed the purple knife from the ground and the red knife Green had set down.

According to Green, the victim then lunged at him stabbing his right abdomen before he could, again, wrestle one of the knives out of her hands.

The cycle of Green holding the door closed, and the victim’s lunging at him continued, however, Green was able to move out of the way and, allegedly in self-defense, stabbed the victim in the left abdomen, according to Green.

Green then alleged that both parties retreated, the victim looked down at the wound and revealed she was pregnant. Prosecutors objected because the information was under seal, and the comment was stricken from the records and the jury was told not to take this into consideration for their verdict.

Green, fighting through tears on the stand, persisted, recounting two more instances of the victim’s lunging at him after hearing this emotional news. Green stabbed the victim in the leg, again allegedly in self-defense.

When the victim moved to attack Green for the final time, Green testified he believed he needed to “make a decision to protect my life.” According to Green, “I close my eyes and just start wildly swinging the knife” until he can hear the victim screaming, “Ok I’m done I’m done.”

Green said he watched the victim fall to the ground and could hear the victim’s family beginning to break through the door. “I knew it had to be bad,” Green said on the stand, but he decided to flee.

Green ran to the bathroom, looked at his injuries, dropped the knife, and jumped out the window and passed out in a backyard.

Green did not call police or go to a hospital, fearing that no one would believe what happened, until he was arrested on Oct. 20, 2023. The court was shown photos of the defendant’s stab wounds from the date of his arrest.

The intensive care unit (ICU) doctor who treated the victim in the hospital also completed her testimony, confirming that had the victim not received medical attention she likely would have died. She added that the injuries sustained by the victim could nonetheless have unknow effects.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene Nov. 7.

Document: Police Investigste Homicide in

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating the homicide of 30-year-old Keion Naylor that took place on Nov. 5 on the 3300 block of 6th Street, SE. 

After responding to reports of gunshots, officers discovered the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Anyone who has knowledge of this incident should take no action but call police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Department's TEXT TIP LINE at 50411.  The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a violent crime committed in the District of Columbia.

Multiple Witnesses Provide Background for Prosecution in Homicide Trial

On day two of a murder trial, the prosecution built its argument with surveillance footage of the incident and offering testimony from four witnesses before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on Nov. 6.

Rafeal Stevens, 39, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree premeditated murder while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 50-year-old Aniekobo Umoh that occurred on Dec. 29, 2022 on the 2000 block of 7th Street, NE.

Jermall Johnson, 40, is also charged in connection to Umoh’s death. On Oct. 28, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan granted the defendants’ request to sever their cases, which allowed them to be tried separately.

According to court documents, the shooting happened outside of the Franklin Market Liquor Store. When Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene they found Umoh suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Umoh succumbed to his injuries later that night.

The prosecution called its witnesses, beginning with an MPD officer who was involved in executing a search warrant in this case on Jan. 3, 2023 . The officer located the Franklin Market Liquor Store on a map and oriented the jury as to the location of the crime.

Prosecutors also called an MPD investigator, testified that he was involved in retrieving the surveillance footage from the cameras both in and outside the liquor store. Surveillance footage leading up to and after the incident were admitted into evidence.

The footage showed the shooting and reactions from witnesses outside and inside the liquor store.

The mother of Stevens’ only daughter testified that her house was searched as part of a warrant and Stevens was arrested from her home. She said Stevens and her had been in a “back and forth” relationship since 2018 but they were on a break in December 2022 when the crime occurred.

According to the witness, Stevens texted her “I might go to jail,” the day after the murder.

After the jury was dismissed, parties argued over whether parts of text message evidence should be redacted before it can be viewed by the jury. The prosecution argued that the texts were important in identifying Stevens as the suspect but the defense argued that they are not contesting Stevens identity and that some of the messages were prejudicial toward Stevens.

Judge Epstein allowed half of the messages to be shown to the jury and the other half redacted citing that the second half of the messages were not relevant to the case.

One of the jurors failed to show up for trial and was called three times before Judge Epstein decided to go ahead with the trial and call in an alternate.

The trial is slated to continue Nov. 7.

Defense Questions Police Conduct in Shooting Trial

A witness working with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was questioned about posts on his Facebook page in a shooting case in front of DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on Nov. 5.

Deon Jenkins, 46, is charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, carrying a dangerous weapon outside the home or business with a prior felony, possession of a destructive device, and unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in a Sept. 29, 2023, non-fatal shooting that occurred on the 1800 block of M Street, NE where Jenkins sustained multiple injuries.

According to court documents, Jenkins shot multiple times at a moving vehicle that was speeding toward him. The defendant fell to the ground and fled while the vehicle crashed through a fence and into a nearby yard.

During the hearing, prosecutors called several officers with MPD who responded to the scene. One officer said she encountered a man on the scene who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, who she identified as the defendant.

Another officer testified that he saw a white van on the block of the shooting with apparent blood stains on the front passenger door. He also testified that he found a gun in an alley behind a residence on the street along with spent shell casings in multiple locations.

During the trial, defense counsel Lauren Morehouse pulled up Facebook posts allegedly made by the officer who found the gun at the scene, which showed the :Blue Lives Matter” flag and quotes like, “I hunt the evil you pretend doesn’t exist.” Another post showed the officer’s account allegedly commenting on a post about police brutality with laughing emojis.

Morehouse also brought up pending conduct investigations allegedly against the officer, including a use of force violation that occurred in October.

On cross examination, another officer testified that in security camera footage there are flashes of light near two separate vehicles that could be muzzle flashes. He also said he had previously lied under oath during testimony in another criminal case where he said there were no sustained findings of conduct violations against him that he knew of, which was not the case. He had a sustained finding against him about an unauthorized vehicle pursuit after which he was suspended for five days.

Yet another MPD officer testified that the defendant did not have a firearm registered in his name at the time of the incident.

An analyst with the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) testified that he collected the firearm and 23 cartridge casings from the scene. He also testified that he found an additional bullet in a residence on the street where the incident allegedly occurred and a bullet hole in the fence of another residence.

On cross examination, the witness testified that the casings had different “headstamps” or identification markings.

Another police witness who swabbed the firearm and magazine for DNA evidence said he accidentally put samples from the firearm and the magazine in the same box, which is not standard procedure. He said analysts were still able to test the samples.

Parties are slated to reconvene Nov. 6.

Judge Denies Shooting Defendant’s Bond Review Motion

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld denied a motion to release a shooting defendant on Nov. 5.

Marquise Vauss, 21, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict and carrying a pistol without a license for his alleged involvement in two domestic violence incidents, on the 1700 block of D street NE.

According to court documents, on Sept. 17, Vauss slapped the victim, identified as his girlfriend, in her apartment and fired three shots at her vehicle as she drove away. Additionally, on Oct. 9, Vauss allegedly punched the victim in the face after she denied him money to purchase marijuana.

At the hearing, Anthony Smith, Vauss’ attorney, argued he should be released as he awaits future court dates. At previous hearings, Smith had argued that Vauss had a support system and place to live in the community through his mother, had a steady job, and Vauss’ girlfriend, the complainant in this case, had indicated Vauss would be allowed to live with her again.

Judge Hertzfeld asked if any circumstances had changed since she last denied his release and Smith said no. Judge Hertzfeld denied the motion.

Parties are set to reconvene on Nov. 13.

Phone Store Stabbing Defendant Takes Plea

A stabbing defendant pleaded guilty before DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian, hours before her trial was supposed to start on Nov. 6.

Lakeesha Taylor, 51, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, simple assault –offenses committed during release, and threats of kidnapping or injuring a person– offenses committed during release, for her involvement in a stabbing incident committed on the 1000 block of H Street, NE. The incident took place on March 2 and left one individual injured.

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were sent to a phone store after an employee pulled a panic alarm. Prior to the alarm, Taylor got angry with the victim because the victim did not wait her turn to get help from the employee.

In a fit of rage, Taylor punched the victim in the face, produced a knife, and made poking and swinging motions with the knife in hand while screaming “I’m going to kill you,” and “I’m going to stab you.” According to the victim, the knife contacted her chest, however, her sweater was thick enough so that the knife did not penetrate the fabric.

During the hearing, Taylor’s attorney, Marnitta King, alerted Judge Christian that Taylor would be accepting a plea agreement extended by the prosecution.

The plea agreement required her to plead guilty to attempted assault with a deadly weapon, and in return, the prosecution would drop the remaining charges.

Parties are slated to convene for sentencing on Jan. 28, 2025.

Judge Grants Second Pre-Indictment Extension in Stabbing Case

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan granted a prosecutor’s request to extend the indictment deadline in a stabbing defendant because an essential witness is unavailable during a hearing on Nov. 6.

Marquita Holloman, 35, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a stabbing incident that occurred on Sept. 13, 2023 on the 2400 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. The incident injured two individuals, one losing an eye.

Judge Raffinan previously granted a thirty day extension to the prosecution during a hearing on Oct. 4.

The prosecution explained to the court that a material witness is currently in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons and is still not in DC despite the prosecution’s request. The prosecution said the situation is out of their control.

The prosecution asked for their second thirty day indictment extension which would make the new deadline Dec. 7.

Holloman’s lawyer, Susan Ellis, opposed this request, arguing that the prosecution does not need the witness even thought it wants the person to testify.

Judge Raffinan granted the prosecution’s request to extend the indictment deadline, finding that the witness is a material witness based on a previous agreement and that the prosecution is working diligently to resolve the matter.

Parties are set to reconvene on Dec. 12.

Judge Says Murder Suspect Must Complete Jail Treatment Before Drug Rehab

During a hearing on Nov. 6, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan ruled that a murder defendant will remain detained because she can’t take an addictive drug while in treatment for drug abuse.

Vanessa Bonaparte, 32, is charged with second-degree murder for her alleged involvement in the stabbing death of 31-year-old Dwayne Boyd, which occurred on June 22 on the 3500 block of East Capitol Street, SE.

According to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA), Bonaparte was denied treatment at Regional Addiction Prevention (RAP) program, a mandatory, in-patient, bed-to-bed drug treatment program, because she is taking a potentially addictive opioid in a jail program to treat pain a previous injury.

Bonaparte’s attorney, Kevann Gardner, argued that Bonaparte is being unfairly penalized because she needs substance abuse treatment.

PSA and the prosecution asked that Bonaparte continue to be held at the jail, citing prior noncompliance with release conditions.

Judge Raffinan voiced concerns that Bonaparte would choose to abandon her treatment just to win release, and stated that, at this time, she believes Bonaparte needs to finish her current treatment program so that she can set herself up for success and compliance when released.

Judge Raffinan ordered a follow up report for the next hearing and for that Bonaparte be held,

Parties will reconvene on Nov. 18.

Shooting Defendant Denied Release

A shooting defendant’s release to home confinement request was denied by DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur on Nov. 6.

Anthony Gary, 27, is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a shooting incident on the 3700 block of Jay Street, NE, on March 22. One individual sustained multiple injuries during the incident.

Gary’s defense attorney, Raymond Jones, requested that Gary be released on GPS monitoring to his home. Judge Arthur denied this request as the defendant is currently held for another case on unrelated charges, adding that no conditions of release can ensure the safety of the community.

Parties are set to reconvene on Dec. 4.

Stabbing Co-Defendants Reject Plea Offers

Two stabbing defendants rejected plea offers in front of DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on Nov. 5.

Da’mon Price, 31, and Raven Trimble, 30, are charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for their alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on June 22, at the intersection of West Basin and Ohio Drive, SW. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

Price is also charged with robbery in connection to the assault.

At the hearing, Price rejected an offer that would require him to plead guilty to one count of fleeing and eluding arrest. Trimble also rejected a plea offer, though it was unclear what the offer entailed.

Parties set the case for trial on May 19.

DC Jail Stabbing Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

A stabbing defendant pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in front of DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on Nov. 5.

Wesley Scott, 22, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a stabbing that occurred while Scott was incarcerated at the DC Jail on Dec. 9, 2023 on the 1900 Block of D Street, NW.

According to court documents, Scott stabbed another inmate, who suffered two wounds in the back, one in the chest, and one to the right hip at the DC Department of Corrections.

Scott, who was incarcerated for voluntary manslaughter at the time of the incident, accepted a plea at the hearing and pled guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years or a $25,000 fine. In exchange, the prosecution agreed to not seek an indictment, and stated they’d ask for a sentence at the bottom of the guidelines.

Parties are set to reconvene for sentencing on Jan. 10.

Defense Paints Murder Victim as the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’

Prosecutors displayed a homicide defendant’s text message that read, “I might go to jail,” to a jury before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on Nov. 5.

Rafael Stevens, 39, is charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Aniekobo Umoh, 50, on Dec. 29, 2022, on the 2700 block of 7th Street, NE.

During opening statements, the prosecution insisted that Steven and Johnson planned the shooting outside of a liquor store, claiming Umoh “could have not known” it was his last day.

“I wish I could tell you why this happened,” the prosecution continued, stating its plan to prove every charge.

However, Varsha Govindaraju, Stevens’ attorney, claimed that “Stevens just wanted a conversation, [Umoh] turned it into a confrontation” as the incident was instigated by Stevens allegedly asking Umoh “can you stop selling drugs to my sister?”

The altercation escalated when Umoh, reportedly known as the “Nigerian Nightmare,” allegedly threatened to kill Stevens, according to Govindaraju. Stevens reacted by pulling out a gun in self-defense while walking backwards. In response, Umoh continued to walk forward to grab the gun when it went off, shooting Umoh in the upper chest.

Painting Umoh as an entrepreneur, his sister testified that the victim was a family man who worked hard as a pipe fitter and a barber and the prosecution presented photos on poster boards to the jury

The defense showed the jury the footage of the shooting, which was compiled by a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who later testified.

A responding officer testified he arrived at the scene over a minute after the initial gunshots were heard. He took command of the crime scene but did not help Umoh because he didn’t have gloves.

Jason Tulley, Stevens’ attorney, argued the defense’s ability to cross examine the officer was limited due to Judge Raffinan granting a motion from the prosecution preventing questions allegedly about the about the incomplete investigation at the scene, and 12 investigations into the officer’s conduct.

Another responding officer testified she followed the ambulance transporting Umoh to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, Her body camera footage displayed how she maintained the chain of custody preserving Umoh’s bloody and bullet-holed clothes for homicide detectives. The items were physically shown to the jury.

A detective also testified about his involvement in the search warrant that was executed in Johnson’s home on Jan. 4, 2023. According to the officer, he accompanied members of the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS), and assisted in recovering Johnson’s Social Security card, driver’s license, abcredit card, and a black jacket, which was similar to one that a suspect wore on the day of Umoh’s murder.

The trial is set to reconvene on Nov. 6.

Shooting Suspect Claims Self-Defense as Trial Begins

A jury trial began for a shooting defendant before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on Nov. 4.

Deon Jenkins, 46, is charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, carrying a dangerous weapon outside the home or business with a prior felony, possession of a destructive device, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition for his alleged involvement in a Sept. 29, 2023, non-fatal shooting that occurred on the 1800 block of M Street, NE.

According to court documents, Jenkins shot multiple times at a moving vehicle that was speeding toward him. The defendant fell to the ground and then fled while the vehicle crashed through a fence and into a nearby yard. He was found in a residential neighborhood with gunshot wounds and taken to the hospital.

During opening statements, the prosecution argued that Jenkins possessed a firearm and shot the weapon at a moving car. Their focus was that Jenkins did not have a license to carry this weapon, and that he came to the scene with a weapon in hand.

“Deon Jenkins brought a gun to a gun fight well before the gun fight occurred,” the prosecutor stated.

Defense attorney Lauren Morehouse argued that Jenkins’ actions were in self-defense, only using the gun as a last resort. Morehouse explained that Jenkins took fire and followed by two cars. Jenkins sustained injuries to his legs and a hand, and only after failing to escape did he grab the gun.

“The only reason why we’re here and not reading about his death, is because he acted to defend himself,” Morehouse stated.

The prosecution’s first witness was a resident whose home security cameras captured the incident. The witness testified he lived next to the alley where the incident occurred, and correctly identified the camera footage of the incident captured by his cameras.

The prosecution called on a sergeant who was flagged down and brought to Jenkins lying on the ground needing medical attention. He testified he called for medical attention before responding to a report of a shooting—the incident’s original location.

Morehouse used cross examination to ask about the investigation process that occurred on the night of the incident. She pointed out a lack of canvassing door to door for witnesses and camera footage, 911 callers who were never contacted, potential DNA collections that were never ordered, and leads of potential witnesses who weren’t contacted, including a woman who spoke to the sergeant and a man walking by trying to get to his car.

The sergeant mostly answered that he couldn’t recall, but that if there was an order, it would’ve appeared on the body worn camera footage; Morehouse clarified that these orders were not on the footage.

Morehouse asked about the two different shell casings that were found at the scene. She asked about matching the shell casings to different gun models, and asked where the casings were found. She confirmed that the 45 caliber casings—the gun Jenkins allegedly owned illegally—were not present at the beginning of the shooting with the other casings.

Instead, Morehouse argued, the location of the casings that match the gun the prosecution claimed Jenkins illegally possessed imply he shot later.

Morehouse also questioned the sergeant about previous conduct violations he had with MPD. She mentioned multiple sustained findings that the sergeant had, including failing to canvas for video footage, failing to recognize excessive use of force, failing to notify for medical attention, harassment, unlawful search of home, frisking complaints, failing to identify himself, and six body worn camera violations.

On redirect, the prosecutor clarified that the sergeant’s body-worn camera was on the night of the incident, and that his role at the scene is to coordinate and assist.

The prosecution also called a forensics services manager from ShotSpotter, a company that assists local police departments to help detect gunshots in a specific location.

According to the manager, sensors are placed around a location, and an incident is recorded when three sensors are activated. He stated that the system will determine if it’s gunfire, before being passed to a human who makes the final decision and publishes the incident to the customer. In this case, the customer is the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

The prosecution showed the witness audio recordings by ShotSpotter from the night of the incident, correctly identifying the shots that came from the alley where Jenkins allegedly shot.

During Morehouse’s cross, she clarified that the sensors can’t detect if there’s more than one shooter, which the witness confirmed.

The trial will resume on Oct. 5.

D.C. Witness Investigation Finds Attorneys for The Indigent Beset by What the Court Calls, ‘An Exceptional Circumstance’

Louis Wesson, 28, has found himself in the DC Superior Court’s presentment hearings before and it has not been a happy experience.

His latest encounter with the criminal justice system relates to a weapons charge which he calls, “bullcrap.” As for the presumption of innocence, Wesson says appearing in court can just mean “throwing your ass in jail.”

He is by no means alone and lawyers assigned to defend indigent clients like Wesson are finding the task increasingly difficult.

After an initial visit in late summer, D.C. Witness reporters attended another recent presentment court session. During that proceeding there were 33 defendants who appeared for hearings that lasted five minutes on average, many for allegedly defying warrants and on lesser criminal charges. Some hearings were as brief as one minute.

For almost all criminal defendants who appear in DC Superior court, court-appointed panel attorneys handle their cases. However, the demand for service and the limited supply of these attorneys has caused a legal traffic jam, according to a months-long investigation conducted by D.C. Witness talking to court officials, lawyers and reviewing relevant documents.

In frustration, Todd Baldwin who heads the panel known as the DC Superior Court Trial Lawyers Association (SCTLA) calls the pressure on panel attorneys “untenable.”

“The DC Court is very much aware of the issues facing panel attorneys and we’re working to resolve the problem,” a court spokesman told D.C. Witness. That includes holding open houses, and trying to recruit new attorneys through a variety of tools including social media. However, the spokesman noted that in a “city full of attorneys,” not enough are pursuing panel work.

The ideal size of the DC panel, says Baldwin, is at least 200 lawyers, but now there are only 139 members working and of those maybe 75 are active on a given day.

D.C. Witness data shows that between May and August of this year there

were 302 felony cases involving 615 hearings requiring 843 lawyer appearances.

Data from the court’s 2025 budget justification to congressional appropriators shows that panel attorneys under the auspices of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) handle 79 percent of DC Superior Court criminal cases, the PDS about eight percent and two percent going to private firms doing pro bono work.

Source: The DC Superior Court 2025 Budget Justification Report

To get another view of the data, D.C. Witness asked the DC Sentencing Commission to review which types of attorneys handled certain felony cases that actually resulted in a sentence between 2022 and 2023. The results again show that panel attorneys were in the majority in every category except homicides.

Note: AWIK is the abbreviation for assault with intent to kill. ADW is assault with a dangerous weapon.

DC Cases Sentenced Between 2022-2023

Source: DC Sentencing Commission

According to the DC Courts’ Statistical Summary for 2023 $46 million is allocated for “Defender Services” to compensate panel attorneys, separate from the PDS, which is asking for $59 million next year up from $53 million this year to handle fewer cases total than panel attorneys. However the agency typically takes on the more challenging felony cases and has a number of other responsibilities besides litigation.

D.C. Witness asked the PDS for comment on the case disparity question but they have yet to respond.

The panel’s budget, meanwhile, hasn’t increased in five years, says Baldwin. The federal government pays for the local operation of the DC courts.

At the same time, the DC Superior Court faces a substantial workload. According to the court’s 2023 annual report, there were 4,472 pending felony cases as of Jan. 1 of last year. While the majority were settled through plea agreements, there were still 165 jury trials, netting 93 guilty verdicts and 53 not guilty outcomes.

In total, Baldwin may be representing as many as 60 defendants at one time charged with a wide variety of offenses from misdemeanors to the most serious felonies. What the clients have in common is severe financial and life challenges.

“We love our clients, love the work we do,” says Baldwin. However, in his 33 years on the job, Baldwin says the situation has never been worse, because “we desperately need more attorneys” to fulfill the constitutional obligation.

The problem is not only exacerbated by an rising number of criminal prosecutions, but the fact that the cases themselves are increasingly complex because of technical evidence like analyzing DNA samples, bullet fragments, social media posts and surveillance videos.

As previously reported, the burgeoning case load combined with a budget shortfall pushed the PDS to the brink of a furlough, which was called off at the last minute in July.

While panel attorneys are private contractors and cannot be compelled to work, “We are cognizant of the crisis and we are pitching in to help as much as we possibly and professionally can,” says Baldwin.
The situation reached a critical point in September when the court issued an administrative order authorizing the temporary use of retired panel lawyers like Charles Murdter, an attorney since 1980.

“I guess I’m sorta un-retired,” wrote Murdter in an email to D.C. Witness after he received the document stating, “the current number of full panel attorneys available for appointments in general has decreased significantly, thus creating an exceptional circumstance.”

Still, Baldwin’s “mystified” that more attorneys don’t take on the work given the challenge and the reward. Every Monday, he’s back in courtroom C 10 waiting for the many new cases that are bound to arrive.

‘He Tried to Make Me Stab Myself,’ Says Victim

The victim in a violent stabbing case testified that the defendant “tried to make me stab myself” in a Nov. 5 trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt.

Devan Green Jr., 30, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, kidnapping while armed, kidnapping while armed against a minor, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and simple assault for his alleged involvement in a Sept. 19 2023 stabbing incident on the 500 block of 58th Street, SE

During the hearing, the victim took the stand and rehashed her history with Green. The two had dated for about two years before the Sept. 19 incident, adding that was not the first physical altercation between them.

The victim testified that there were two previous incidents, one in which Green allegedly poured a gallon of Kool-Aid over her head while choking her, and another when Green allegedly smothered the victim using a blanket and choked her again.

Regarding the Sept. 19 incident, the victim testified that Green was upset when she walked into the house while speaking to another man on the phone. Green began packing his things as if he was going to leave when the victim’s family arrived outside the building. The victim had called them stating that she “felt unsafe” at that time.

The victim told the jury that Green was also packing items he had purchased for her, and asked her to take her pants off since he had bought them. As the victim began removing them, the victim claimed that Green pulled her off the bed by her legs, stating her “head bounced off the ground” as Green continued to hold her up by the pant legs.

The victim said she retreated to the balcony arming herself with a knife while Green set up a barricade blocking the victim’s family from getting into the apartment.

According to the victim, when Green went after her, she showed him the knife and he “tried to make me stab myself.”

Green allegedly told the victim to tell her family she was okay through the living room window, and not to call the police according to the victim.

The victim testified this is when Green stabbed her the first time, in the middle of her chest. She reached her hand, covered in blood, out the window to show her family that she was in trouble and they called the police.

The victim also testified that Green went to check on the victim’s child and she followed. She found Green crying and apologizing to their kid, which quickly morphed into blaming the victim for what had happened. The victim moved to check on her child herself which is when Green allegedly pushed her down and began stabbing her repeatedly.

The victim claimed she used her “last bit of strength” to remove the barricade Green had put in front of the door to the apartment and allow officers to come in, after Green escaped through a window.

Finally, the victim testified that, as a result of the incident, she had undergone multiple surgeries, never regained full use of one of her arms, and sustained nerve damage to one of her legs that forced her to learn to walk again through physical therapy.

The intensive care unit (ICU) doctor who treated the victim also testified, stating she remembered this case vividly just because of the sheer number of stab wounds. According to the doctor, the victim sustained 21 stab wounds.

The doctor was also able to testify, in more detail, to the injuries sustained by the victim including lacerations to her liver, two collapsed lungs, and about two liters of blood loss.

A DNA analyst took the stand as well, including in her testimony the results of DNA testing on two knives recovered from the scene. One knife was extremely likely to have DNA from the victim on the blade and DNA from both Green and the victim on the handle. The other knife did not have enough DNA to perform a comparison but DNA from the handle had evidence of at least one male contributor.

Parties are set to reconvene Nov. 6 for continued witness testimony.

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