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After Disrupting Hearing, A Convicted Felon Receives 11 Year Sentence

On March 22, a non-fatal shooting defendant was sentenced to 132 months of incarceration before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. 

Dominic Copeland, 33, was convicted of assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and unlawful possession of a firearm for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the unit block of N Street NW, on April 26, 2019. One individual was injured during the incident. Copeland was acquitted of robbery while armed and one count of possession of a firearm.

During the sentencing hearing on March 22, the prosecution requested the maximum sentence for Copeland and said that Copeland had intent behind his actions. The prosecutor also began to address Copeland’s involvement in a previous case. 

However, Copeland interrupted the prosecutor with an angry outburst.

“The attorney keeps on saying fabrications,” Copeland said. “You’re still allowing him to insult my intelligence.”

Judge Raffinan reminded Copeland that he would get an opportunity to speak but would need to stay quiet while the prosecutor was speaking. 

After another outburst by Copeland, he was taken out of the courtroom, and Judge Raffinan ordered a temporary recess. This is not the first time Copeland has interrupted proceedings with an outburst. On Jan. 3, Judge Raffinan continued a sentencing hearing after Copeland had an angry outburst and was taken out of the courtroom. 

When the parties returned to court, the prosecution said that Copeland’s criminal history had been accumulating to a dangerous level. 

Copeland’s defense attorney, Michael Madden, requested the minimum sentence as Copeland has been struggling with mental health issues and would receive treatment during incarceration. Madden also said that Copeland has a support system he can return to after incarceration.

When Judge Raffinan gave Copeland an opportunity to speak, Copeland explained that he didn’t believe the verdict was fair and attributed the decision to prejudice and racism. 

“I really don’t understand how the jury came up with a guilty verdict,” Copeland said. “It’s laughable. I’m laughing inside.”

Judge Raffinan took into consideration Copeland’s criminal history and mental health issues. She sentenced Copeland to 11 years of incarceration and five years of supervised release. Copeland must also register as a gun offender. 

Judge Excuses Homicide Defendant Out of Courtroom 

A murder defendant was kicked out of a courtroom March 22 after continuously interrupting DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe during his case’s proceeding. 

Darryl Tompkins, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the deaths of 29-year-old Edward Roberts Jr. and 23-year-old Tyler McEachern. Roberts was fatally shot on the 3500 block of 14th Street, NW, on July 30, 2016. McEarchern was killed on the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE, on Aug. 29, 2016. 

In the hearing, Tompkins, who is also known as Daryl Thompson, expressed his frustration, regarding the continuance of the case, to Judge O’Keefe. Tompskins attempted to give handwritten copies of his frustrations to the parties, but Judge O’Keefe rejected them. 

According to Tompkins defense attorneys, Dana Page and Pierce Suen, a mental health evaluation ruled he was competent. Page and Suen also expressed frustrations regarding the life-span of the case. 

Both parties agreed on having “up-to-date” competency evaluations for Tompkins. 

“All hearings like this go on for years,” Judge O’Keefe stated. “I’m frustrated too.”

Tompkins continuously interrupted Judge O’Keefe and counsel, so Judge O’Keefe instructed a court marshal to escort him out of the courtroom. 

Parties are slated to return on Sept. 9. 

Homicide Defendant Who Testified to Self Defense Acquitted of All Charges

On March 20, following a week-long trial, a homicide defendant was acquitted of all charges in DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo’s courtroom.

Tierra Posey, 24, was charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business for her alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Tia Carey on Jan. 6, 2020, at a gas station on the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. 

While both parties agreed that Carey was the first aggressor as video surveillance showed, the prosecution attempted to prove Posey’s guilt by arguing that Posey had time to flee, so her use of a firearm was unnecessary.

“Did she need to use deadly force to repel Tia Carey?” the prosecutors asked during their closing argument. “The answer is unequivocally no.” Carey got into a fight with Posey when Carey caught her with her boyfriend.

The prosecutors also showed gas station video surveillance footage of the shooting and called various eyewitnesses to the stand, including the victim’s sister, boyfriend, and niece. 

However, Carey’s boyfriend was reluctant to answer many of the prosecutor’s questions, and the other witnesses made contradictory statements about Carey’s and their actions during the incident. One eyewitness testified that Carey only arrived at the gas station to confront her boyfriend, while another testified that Carey happened upon Posey and her boyfriend by surprise. None of the prosecution’s witnesses testified to hearing Carey threaten Posey’s life.

Posey’s defense attorneys, Kevann Gardner and Quiana Harris, pointed out these contradictory statements in their closing argument. 

During the trial, they presented evidence of Carey’s past arrests for domestic violence disputes, as well as calling an eyewitness to the stand that was unrelated to Carey. This eyewitness testified to hearing Carey make threatening statements to Posey during their physical altercation, but could not remember the specific words.

Most notably, Posey herself testified to her account of events and how she acted in self-defense. According to Posey, she had experienced a lot of gun violence in her past, and when she was attacked by a stranger who threatened her life, she reacted instantly.

“I was jumped, I was threatened,” Posey testified. “[Carey] said that she was going to kill me, and I believed it.”

Jury deliberations took less than a day, but ultimately, the panel of 12 acquitted Posey of all charges. Posey, who was already out on release, will remain in the community.

No further dates were set.

Homicide Defendant Accepts Wired Plea Deal

On March 21, a defendant pleaded guilty in a 2020 homicide case and a 2023 assault case before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt. 

Jermaine Harris, 22, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, among other charges, in connection to the death of 38-year-old Lamar Walters on the 2400 block of Franklin Street, NE, on Jan. 6, 2020. 

Court documents explain that Walters walked into the Washington Hospital Center suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on his body. He was later pronounced dead. 

Harris is also charged with four additional counts including conspiracy, assault with intent to kill, unlawful possession of contraband into a penal institution, and carrying a dangerous weapon for his involvement in the stabbing of another inmate while being held in DC Jail.  

In the wired plea deal with a co-defendant for the assault case, the prosecution offered Harris dismissal of greater remaining charges if he plead guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed for the shooting and one count of assault with intent to kill for the stabbing.

As a result of the plea, the parties agreed to a sentencing range of  seven-to-nine years of imprisonment, after which Harris will be required to register as a gun offender.  

The maximum sentence for both charges is 30 years imprisonment each.

Parties are slated to return June 13 for sentencing.

Homicide Defendant Remains on Pretrial Release Following Arraignment

In a March 22 hearing felony arraignment hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun allowed a homicide defendant to remain on pretrial release despite alleged violations of his sobriety orders. 

Dwayne Fountain, 44, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed, possession of a prohibited weapon, and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business by a prior convict, for his alleged involvement in the fatal beating of 47-year-old Marcus Carey that occurred on May 4, 2023 on the 3500 block of Hayes Street, NE.

During the hearing, a representative from pretrial services informed the court that Fountain tested positive for Phencyclidine (PCP) on March 7, in violation of his pretrial release conditions. In response, Judge Okun ordered intensive outpatient treatment for the defendant. 

Fountain’s defense attorney, Jason Tulley, stated that Fountain was reasserting his plea of not guilty, and wants to go to trial. 

All parties stated their intention to set a date for trial at the next status hearing on April 26. 

Homicide Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

In a March 22 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun accepted a guilty plea from homicide defendant Antoine Lynch. 

Lynch, 37, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the shooting of Devonte Maxwell, 30, on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. 

During the hearing, Lynch’s defense attorney, Gemma Stevens, alerted the court they had come to an agreement with the prosecution. The plea deal required Lynch plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment. 

Sentencing for this matter is scheduled to take place on June 7.

Judge Denies Motion to Suppress Witness Testimony

On March 22, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein denied a motion to suppress the testimony of six witnesses in a homicide trial.

Stephon Williams, 32, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in the shooting of his 49-year-old father Stephen Magruder on Sept. 11, 2020, on the 700 block of 51st Street, NE.

Jason Tulley and Kavya Naini, Williams’ defense attorneys, claimed that five of the witnesses would testify that they saw “violent acts” by Magruder towards Williams, Williams’ brother, and William’s mother while Williams was a child.

The prosecution argued that one witness’ testimony is hearsay or speculative because they did not know Williams’ state of mind and claimed he was hiding out of fear. However, Tulley noted that witnesses frequently mention people looking scared.

The prosecution also argued that the evidence is “more prejudicial than probative” when referencing the fact that Williams was not present during the incident in which his mother allegedly received a black eye.

However, the defense argued that Williams’ awareness of the situation speaks to his state of mind.

Judge Epstein noted that the testimony shows “evidence of Williams’ fearfulness”.

The last witness was Magruder’s wife at the time of his death. Niani stated that this witness would testify that she was a victim of domestic violence caused by Magruder and there are police reports to support this claim.

The prosecution’s main argument was that almost all of the abuse that Williams experienced happened before he turned 18. “There was a 10-year cooling off period,” said prosecutors as they pointed out that Williams was 29 years old at the time of the shooting.

The prosecutors further argued that Williams did not experience a “reasonable state of fear” because the abuse happened so long ago.

Tulley argued that although most of the abuse against Williams happened long ago, Magruder’s wife was being abused shortly before Magruder was shot showing a pattern of violence.

Tulley further noted that Magruder “physically struck” Williams shortly before the shooting, which triggered a flashback that resulted in Williams’ “imminent fear of death or serious bodily injury”.

“I don’t think that the prejudicial effect outweighs the probative value,” said Judge Epstein as he denied the prosecution’s motion and allowed the defense witnesses to testify.

Parties are slated to return April 1 for trial.

Young Defendant Sentenced to 10 Years on Homicide Charge

On March 22, 18-year-old Eugene Williams, was sentenced by DC Superior Court  Judge Maribeth Raffinan to 10 years in prison for his involvement in a homicide.

The shooting incident occurred on Feb. 8, 2022 on the unit block of Chesapeake Street, SE. According to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) documents, 16-year-old DeShawn Francis was found alive with a gunshot wound to the head but succumbed to his injuries on Feb. 11, 2022. The shooting occurred following a disputed marijuana deal of $200.


At the sentencing hearing, the victim’s stepfather said that although Williams demonstrated an eagerness to right his wrongs, “My son doesn’t get a chance to better himself. There are no second chances for us,” he said with tears in his eyes.


The prosecution said it is “almost more scary” that Williams had no prior criminal history because it highlights the abruptness of the act, emphasizing that, “Society deserves to be protected.”


The defense characterized Williams as a “wonderful man” who committed a “horrific act” due to his circumstances noting that, “If he was given the opportunities that other children had, he would not be before the court today.”


Williams’ attorney argued that he was neglected and abused and lacked resources growing up as mitigating factors.


Williams also wrote a letter to the court expressing remorse.


Judge Raffinan set a hearing in 30 days to start Williams’s sentencing, so he could pass one more test to obtain his GED.

She pointed to the defendant’s age, the fact that there was no previous criminal history, and the nature of the crime as factors behind her decision.

Next hearing date is scheduled for April 22.

Homicide Defendant Waives Right for DNA Testing

On March 22, homicide defendant Myron Hickson waived his right to independent DNA testing before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun. 

Hickson, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the homicide of 38-year-old Maurice Frazier, which occurred on Oct. 28, 2022, on the 900 block of Bellevue Street, SE. 

During the hearing, prosecution stated that they are not seeking any DNA testing for this matter. 

Likewise, defense attorney Dana Page informed the court that the defendant was waiving his right to independent DNA testing. 

Parties will reconvene on Aug. 23 for a pretrial status hearing.