Defendant Won’t Get Another Attorney in Jail Stabbing Case

DC Superior Court Judge Ryan denied a jail stabbing defendant’s request to dismiss his attorney at a hearing on Feb. 18.

Ovid Gabriel, 21, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and assault on a police officer for his alleged involvement in stabbing a correctional officer on Aug. 3, 2025, inside the DC Jail, on the 1900 block of D Street, SE. The officer sustained nine stab wounds, a collapsed lung, and a lacerated intestine.

At the hearing, Gabriel’s attorney, Kevin Irving, asked Judge Ryan to grant his request to withdraw because Gabriel wanted new counsel.

The prosecution opposed Gabriel’s request for new counsel and argued to the court that he had asked for new counsel on multiple occasions. According to the prosecutor, this was Gabriel’s fifth or sixth attorney. According to court records, Gabriel only had two attorneys in this case, but he has other pending cases.

Judge Ryan then asked Irving and Gabriel to approach the bench, where they conferred privately about whether Irving would remain on the case.

After the discussion, Judge Ryan decided Irving would continue to represent Gabriel in the case.

The parties are scheduled to reconvene on Jan. 4, 2027.

Felony Murder Defendant Waives Preliminary Hearing in Backback Shooting

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson accepted a first-degree murder defendant’s waiver of his right to a preliminary hearing of the evidence on Feb. 20.

Javier Montgomery, 18, is charged with first-degree felony murder while armed for his alleged involvement in a fatal shooting of Jermaine Durbin, 18, at the 2300 block of Washington Place, NE on Oct. 3, 2025. Durbin died from one gunshot wound to his face.

According to court documents, a witness reported that Montgomery took Durbin’s backpack because it contained marijuana. Durbin followed him when Montogomery allegedly pulled out a gun and shot him.

Another witness reportedly told the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) that Montgomery called a former partner and told them that he shot and killed someone. According to court documents Montgomery said something to the effect of “it was an accident, and it wasn’t supposed to happen.”

At the hearing, Montgomery waived his right to a preliminary hearing that would have determined whether probable cause existed for the charge against him. Judge Dayson questioned Montgomery to ensure that he knowingly and willingly waived his right.

Montgomery’s attorney, Carrie Weletz, submitted a medical alert to the court to request mental health treatment for her client, which Judge Dayson granted.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 24.

Homicide Defendant Acted As, ‘Judge, Jury, and Executioner,’ Prosecutor Says

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz accepted expert testimony Feb. 18 from a forensic psychologist that a defendant was not suffering from PTSD during his alleged involvement in a shooting.

Khalid Claggett, 42, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Isaac Aull Jr, 30, on the 1600 block of Franklin Street NE, on June 11, 2021. All charges face an aggravating factor of allegedly being committed during Claggett’s release for another offense.

A forensic psychologist testified that she conducted a court-ordered evaluation of Claggett’s mental health and did not find any evidence of PTSD symptoms through his responses or body language. In addition, his results for other personality and emotional functioning tests, according to the psychologist, were not clinically significant or indicative of a PTSD diagnosis.

After reviewing footage of the incident, the psychologist said she does not believe Claggett experienced post-trauma symptoms during the shooting. She described his actions as “reactionary” and “purposeful.”

Claggett’s attorney, Howard McEachen, cross-examined the expert witness by asking her the likelihood of symptoms going away in two months. She said that it is possible, but very unlikely.

Two months prior to her evaluation, another psychologist diagnosed Claggett with PTSD. She testified that she was surprised by his diagnosis since he did not request to review any records, a crucial step in determining someone’s condition.

After the cross examination, the prosecution urged jurors to find Claggett guilty for all charges, emphasizing exhibits and witness testimonies allegedly showed the defendant did not act in self-defense but rather made a deliberate decision to use deadly force.

The prosecutor told the jury, during closings, that each witness mentioned they saw Claggett shoot the victim or walk past them in the direction of the victim. This proves Claggett was not using self-defense and acted voluntarily, the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor expressed that Claggett testified as a witness stating that “It is to his benefit to make up a story.”

The incident video was presented an additional time to the jury.

The prosecutor mentioned that Clagget acted as the “judge, jury, and executioner.” Claggett decided to take matters into his own hands, instead of letting the law and police fix it, the prosecutor said. The prosecutor concluded statements by asking the jury to find the defendant guilty of all charges.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 19 when the defense is expected to give a closing argument in the case.

Carjacking, Robbery Defendant Detained After Preliminary Hearing

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Hildum denied release for a carjacking defendant after he waived his preliminary hearing on Feb. 19.

Da’Andre Pardlow, 31, is charged with armed carjacking, robbery while armed, and kidnapping while armed. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in seizing a motor vehicle from a victim while armed on Sept. 13, 2024 at Fort Dupont Park in Southeast.

According to court documents, the victim and Pardlow reportedly met in the park for a sexual encounter. Pardlow allegedly threatened to shoot the victim while forcing him to surrender his phone. Then, Pardlow allegedly forced the victim into the passenger seat of his car, Pardlow drove the vehicle to a bank, and allegedly withdrew money from the victim’s account.

Pardlow decided to waive his right to a preliminary hearing of the evidence and Judge Hildum agreed.

Defense attorney Patrick Nowak argued that Pardlow should be released to home confinement due to his extensive ties in the community. Nowak said Pardlow was employed for most of his adult life, most recently at several moving companies and Amazon. Additionally, Nowak noted that Pardlow’s family was present at the hearing and he could stay with his parents if released.

The prosecution asked that Pardlow remain in custody to protect community safety. They emphasized the “egregious” nature of the crime and that Pardlow had a criminal history that included robbery and other firearms offenses. In addition, the prosecution claimed to have an overwhelming amount of evidence to convict Pardlow, including surveillance footage.

After reviewing his criminal history, Judge Hildum decided to keep Pardlow in jail. Though he has yet to be tried on the current charges, the judge stated, “many people have already been endangered by his [Pardlow’s] actions.”

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 12.

Crucial Witness Testimony Debated in Homicide Case

Parties in a homicide case discussed the admissibility of crucial witness testimony in a motions hearing on Feb. 23 before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz.

Jaime Macedo, 24, is charged with first-degree felony murder while armed, robbery while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of then 25-year-old Maxwell Emerson. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Alumni Lane, NE, on July 5, 2023.

In February, the defense filed several motions –the first regarding witness testimony concerning the victim’s father.

The prosecution said they plan to call both the victim’s parents as witnesses in the upcoming trial. Emerson’s father, however, requested to attend parts of the trial and the pre-trial hearings, during which he could hear information that could influence his or his wife’s testimony.

The prosecutors argued that it was necessary to call Emerson’s father as a witness due to “the facts of the case.” The defense stated they felt that prosecutors were in a “precarious situation.”

The parties agreed that Emerson’s father would be allowed to attend pre-trial hearings and parts of the trial as long as his testimony would not contain information about the incident itself. Additionally, he can not share information regarding the hearings with his wife, the victim’s mother.

Parties discussed another defense motion regarding Macedo’s prior conviction, which involved the testimony of a Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) officer whom prosecutors plan to call at trial. The officer said Macedo’s probation was under his supervision at the time.

According to the CSOSA officer, he first met Macedo the morning of the murder and briefly entered the defendant’s home during a scheduled check-in meeting. As the witness is likely to testify during the trial, defense attorneys Rachel Cicurel and Jessica Willis were concerned that telling the jury the witness’s occupation would reveal prejudicial information about the defendant’s criminal history.

While parties couldn’t agree on a way to describe the witness accurately and in a non-prejudicial manner in front of the jury, they agreed to continue the discussion at a later time, closer to trial.

Prosecutors also called a detective at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) regarding their opposition to a defense motion to exclude other witness testimony.

The defense argued the witnesses should not be allowed to testify at trial because they did not witness the actual events of the incident, but identified Macedo.

According to the detective during testimony, days after the incident, a “seeking to identify” flyer was distributed throughout the MPD, and the department was taking tips from civilians regarding the murder.

The prosecutors questioned the detective about two witnesses who provided tips regarding Macedo’s identity over the phone, claiming to have connections to Macedo through family or friends.

One witness, who called in, told the detective their sister attended school with Macedo’s girlfriend, and would see him hanging around the school often. The second witness, who texted, told the detective they had known Macedo and his family for two years, providing what they knew to be Macedo’s Instagram handle and a nickname.

Due to time constraints, parties are scheduled to resume questioning her on Feb. 24.

Document: MPD Investigating Southeast Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Feb. 21 on the 4400 block of 3rd Street, SE. The victim, identified as 40-year-old Travis Fears of Southeast, DC, was found with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene.

Judge Frustrated Over Evidence Delays in 16-Year-Old Shooting Case

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman didn’t rule on probable cause in a shooting after criticizing the prosecution for introducing long-delayed evidence in a hearing on Feb. 20.

Terry Greene, 35, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on June 7, 2010, on the 5800 block of Fields Place, NE. One person suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the body.

The lead detective testified that two witnesses were referenced in court documents, but that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) later identified two additional witnesses who were not listed in the material turned over to the prosecutor.

According to the court documents, the first witness observed Greene walking with two other males and noticed what appeared to be the imprint of a firearm under Greene’s shirt. According to the record, the witness stated that after the group walked out of view, several gunshots were heard coming from that direction. Shortly after, they reported seeing Greene run from the alleyway holding a gun.

The second witness similarly stated that they saw Greene walking with two other males. After the trio moved out of sight, the witness heard gunshots and then observed Greene running from the alleyway with a gun in his hand, according to court records.

According to the detective, the third witness was present with both Greene and the victim at the time of the shooting. The witness reported walking slightly ahead of Greene and the victim in the alleyway when gunshots were heard. The detective stated that the witness immediately turned around and observed Greene with his arm extended, holding a firearm, while the victim fell to the ground.

The detective further testified that a fourth witness had a separate conversation with Greene. During that conversation, the witness said Greene admitted to taking a gun and shooting the victim.

During cross-examination, Greene’s attorney, Todd Baldwin, asked the detective if filing the court documents to include the two missing witnesses took a lot of time. The detective responded yes and Baldwin pointed out that the detective had 15 years to file new documents.

Baldwin also pointed out that the detective did not witness the shooting and his entire knowledge of the case comes from the witnesses, two of them unconfirmed.

Baldwin further questioned the detective about the intent of the shooting. The first two witnesses never saw the shooting, so they could not speak about intent, Baldwin argued. He stated that since the third witness was not facing Greene and the victim, the witness can’t say what they were doing right before the shots were fired. The fourth witness wasn’t even there, Baldwin asserted, so they could not speak about the intent behind the shooting either.

Then, Baldwin addressed the gun used in the shooting. The first witness never saw the gun being fired but identified the defendant as the shooter because he thought he saw a gun in Greene’s shirt. According to Baldwin, the detective never questioned the witness on how he knew it was a gun, what kind of shirt Greene was wearing, how tight it was, or whether he was wearing a jacket that could’ve obstructed the witness’ view.

Additionally, Baldwin questioned the detective about other evidence that was available to connect Greene to the crime scene. The detective confirmed there was no DNA, no fingerprints, no gunshot residue, or no video surveillance linking Greene to the shooting. The detective told Baldwin he did not know where the four witnesses were now.

Judge Edelman asked the parties “how in the world am I supposed to rule on probable cause now?” The defense had not received the supplemental arrest warrant that mentioned the two additional witnesses, in addition, the incident took place 16 years ago, said the judge. The judge acknowledged how difficult it was for Baldwin to cross-examine the detective without seeing all of the evidence.

The prosecutor asked Judge Edelman to hold Greene without bond, but the judge stated that he didn’t see how he could rule on that until he knew this case was going to move forward. He told the prosecutor he was going to give him another week to “hold this together.”

If more evidence didn’t come to light, Judge Edelman said he would have to rule without it.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Feb. 27.

Judge Grants Mistrial in Fatal Shooting Case

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman granted the defense’s request for mistrial in a homicide case on Feb. 13, due to lead counsel’s unavailability mid-trial because of a personal emergency.

Jakiem Miller, 27, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with prior crime of violence, and obstructing justice for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Avon Perkins, 30, on the 2400 block of 18th Street, NW, on Dec. 17, 2022.

On Feb. 9, during the fourth day of the trial, Judge Edelman informed parties and jurors that the trial would be delayed due to a personal emergency for lead defense attorney Steven Kiersh.

On Feb. 12, defense attorney Megan Allburn filed a motion for mistrial. Allburn argued that moving forward with the trial would deprive Miller of his lead counsel with whom he has built a lengthy relationship. Allburn clarified to Judge Edelman that she has only known the defendant since November of 2025.

That same day, the prosecution filed an opposition to the motion. They argued that a mistrial would impose further burdens on the prosecution, witnesses, victims, and Perkins’ family. The prosecution emphasized that 21 witnesses have already taken the time to testify, and some of them had to travel to do so.

They further argued that Miller has competent counsel in Allburn, who is an established homicide trial attorney, and could conclude the trial.

Prior to making his decision, Judge Edelman noted an aspect of this case that makes it unique from other mistrial cases is that Miller had previously raised concerns about his counsel not aligning with his goals.

During an inquiry to discuss the issue in 2025, Judge Edelman told the defendant that there are not many attorneys with the same level of experience and expertise as Kiersh. Miller decided to withdraw his motion to change counsel, and told Judge Edelman it was because of what was said during the inquiry.

Due to the nature of Miller’s relationship with his lead counsel, Judge Edelman determined that it would not be fair to continue the trial with a replacement counsel.

Judge Edelman told the court that Miller is not an object attorneys can just pass around, rather he is a person with significant interest in the case and has to continue to play a role in his own defense.

He granted the motion for mistrial.

Parties are slated to reconvene May 6.

Judge Scolds Teen Carjacking Defendant Following Release Noncompliance

DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean admonished an armed carjacking defendant to improve his compliance with release conditions on Feb. 13.

Richard Bates, 19, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, armed carjacking, robbery while armed, and three counts of possession of firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a carjacking on Sept. 13, 2023 on the 1600 block of Frankford Street, SE.

Judge McLean said she saw few curfew violations and asked the defense to provide an explanation.

Bates’ defense attorney, Madhuri Swarna, said his family is currently unhoused resulting in missed curfews because he was staying at a family friend’s house to keep warm.

Judge McLean also noted that Bates went to a tobacco store around midnight on Feb. 3. Swarna said the store sells food alongside cigarettes and drugs. The reason was was Bates was hungry and went to the closest food store near him.

A representative from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) said that Bates has not reported for mental health screening from Dec. 8 to Feb. 2, making him a lost contact. Bates was recently placed with a caseworker to begin a drug program.

Christen Philips, Bates’ other attorney, said he was still meeting with a social worker and therapist that provided substance abuse counseling.

Judge McLean raised concerns about Bates’ attendance at Youth Build, an educational program to re-engage his learning, since he only participated a few times. Philips said that Bates’ family lives very far from Youth Build and must take two connecting buses to get there.

Judge McLean said the only reason why she won’t detain Bates is because he has not reoffended. According to Judge McLean, it doesn’t seem like Bates is putting in effort, and she demanded better results, especially with his trial approaching.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 10.

Judge Denies Shooting Defendant’s Release For Victim’s Changing Statements

DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean denied a shooting defendant’s motion for release on Feb. 13.

Anthony McKoy, 33, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a domestic violence related shooting on the 5000 block of E Street, NW on Jan. 1. No injuries were reported.

According to court documents, McKoy and the victim were reportedly involved romantically on-and-off for nine years prior to the incident.

At the hearing, McKoy’s attorney, Antoini Jones, asked Judge McLean to reconsider releasing his client. Jones said the victim changed her story about what she witnessed during the incident hours after she first spoke with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers.

The prosecutor opposed McKoy’s release and raised concerns about jail messages and call logs that show frequent communication between McKoy and the victim. They claimed this called the honesty of the victim’s recantation into question.

Judge McLean agreed with the prosecution and also expressed concern with the reliability of the victim’s testimony. Therefore, the judge denied the motion to reconsider McKoy’s release.

The prosecutor also requested that Judge McLean issue a stay-away order from the victim, which was granted.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 17.

Judge Orders Full Mental Exam for Stabbing Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean ordered a full mental examination for a stabbing defendant on Feb. 19 after reviewing a report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH).

Sarita Middleton, 45, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a stabbing on the 1700 block of Columbia Road, NW, on Feb. 11.

According to court documents, the incident occurred while Middleton waited for food at a restaurant. An employee sustained minor lacerations to their arm.

The records say, an order for a preliminary screening to determine Middleton’s competency was filed on Feb 13.

During the hearing, Middleton’s presence was waived due to a delay at the DC Jail. Judge McLean determined that the defendant was deemed mentally incompetent by DBH, and ordered a full mental examination be done at the jail. To stand trial a defendant must understand the charges and help in his defense.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 1.

Fatal Stabbing Defendant Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment

A homicide defendant pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Feb. 13.

Donald Shields, 47, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and possession of a prohibited weapon for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 36-year-old Dominique Ratiff at the intersection of Dupont Circle and the 1900 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW on Dec. 30, 2024.

The court formally arraigned Shields on the indictment charges against him and his attorney, Bernadette Armand, entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. Armand asserted Shields’ right to a jury trial.

Armand also asked to remove Shields from his GPS monitoring, a condition of his release. Judge Kravitz instructed Armand to file a written motion for prosecutors’ response.

Parties are set to reconvene on April 24.

DNA Evidence Missing in Shooting Case

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz heard testimony from the prosecution about lost DNA evidence in a shooting case involving two suspects on Feb. 13.

Eric Latney, 29, and James Crossland, 29, are both being charged with one count of assault with intent to kill, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of conspiracy to commit a violent crime. All charges stem from their alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting that occurred on the 200 block of 56th Street, NE and the 5600 block of Blaine Street, NE on July 8, 2021.

Crossland’s defense attorney, Hannah Claudio, said the prosecution had lost evidence of Crossland’s DNA. Claudio asked for the DNA to be sent over so that the defense can conduct their own testing.

The prosecution responded that the DNA evidence was returned to the office after testing and delivered to the third floor. The evidence was then left by a previous prosecutor who was away at the time and has not returned.

Judge Kravitz asked the defense what they wished to do at this time, due to the DNA evidence being lost.

Claudio responded with the intent to file a motion of dismissal on grounds of failure to preserve evidence by the prosecution. Nikki Lotze, Latney’s defense attorney, responded similarly, with the intent to file a motion in their case due to loss of evidence. Lotze intended to use Crossland’s DNA as evidence in their case.

Judge Kravitz asked the prosecution to clarify how the evidence got lost.

The prosecutors stated they have searched the entire third floor and all designated offices, but the DNA remains missing. Despite being unable to find the evidence, the prosecution insisted the DNA is somewhere on the third floor.

Lotze, also filed a motion to sever his case from Crossland. The defense attorney said she would call Crossland as a witness.

Judge Kravitz responded to the motion by clarifying he will need to examine the scope of Crossland’s testimony before deciding on the motion.

Judge Kravitz set up briefing dates for motions to be filed in the case. Defense must file motions by March 20, and the prosecution has until April 17 to respond.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for an update on May 1.

Stabbing Defendant With Checkered Record Sentenced to 20 Months

A non-fatal stabbing defendant who struggled with drugs received 20 months jail time during a sentencing before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on Feb. 20.

Dennis Christie, 49, pleaded guilty on Dec. 8, 2025 to assault with significant bodily injury while armed and possession of a prohibited weapon in connection to a non-fatal stabbing which occurred on April 22, 2024 at the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE. The victim sustained a stab wound to the abdomen.

At sentencing, the prosecution requested that Christie be sentenced to the top end of the guidelines because he admitted to stabbing the victim while he was on probation for another incident.

The prosecution claimed the support for a high sentence “rest[s] in the papers,” referring to his written sentencing argument.

Lauckland Nicholas, Christie’s attorney, asked Judge Di Toro to consider that Christie changed as a person since the incident.

“He wants to make a change…give him a chance,” Nicholas said.

On behalf of Christie, Nicholas requested a split sentence between jail and probation emphasizing rehabilitation.

“He can’t afford to be back in prison,” Nicholas said referring to his previous convictions.
Christie talked about his history with drug abuse and his rehabilitation efforts. There was a stretch where he was clean for three-to-four years, said Christie.

According to Christie, his decision to quit drugs came after an incident prior to this stabbing. “I made the decision that I never wanted to be in someone’s courtroom,” Christie said, referring to when he was released from prison in 2021.

Christie talked about his desire to change his behavior and stay clean from drugs. “We had all our children in one place. It was the most beautiful thing,” Christie said about his family inspiring him to change his behavior.

“I’m ready to get hold of my life,” concluded Christie.

Judge Di Toro noted that across Christie’s adult life, most of his issues with the law resulted from his addiction to heroin. She considered his history of drug abuse and his period of “relative stability” without drugs.

The judge acknowledged that the “consequences for this must be real” as the victim was significantly injured and treated in the hospital but sentenced Christie to the “lower end of the guidelines.”

Christie was sentenced to 20 months of imprisonment for the assault charge, 12 months for the possession charge, to run concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Di Toro did not sentence Christie to probation since he was on probation when the stabbing occurred. As part of his supervised release, Christie must receive drug treatment and refrain from all substances.

No further dates were set.

Prosecution Charges a Stabbing Defendant, Despite Homicide Acquittal

Prosecutors alerted DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz that they plan to move forward with a defendant’s charges on Feb. 13, despite a jury acquitting the defendant of all other charges.

Malik Seltzer, 30, is charged with assault with intent to kill for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on the 3900 block of 1st Street, SE on Sept.15, 2021.

Prosecution argued that Seltzer allegedly stabbed the victim due to him believing the victim was an eyewitness witness to a murder allegedly committed by Seltzer on that same day.

Seltzer was tried on those charges and was acquitted of them by a jury on Jan. 22, 2026.

Seltzer is currently serving a sentence for an unrelated case, and is expected to be released in April 2027. Defense attorneys Kevann Gardner and Bernadette Armand asked that the defendant be released from custody if his sentence is up in the previous case before the trial date for this case.

Judge Kravitz denied the motion for now as the defendant is still serving his sentence. Judge Kravitz asked defense attorneys to file a motion closer to Seltzer’s release date in 2027 if the trial, which is scheduled for June 2027, is still planned.

Judge Kravitz asked the prosecution if the stabbing victim would still be in the jurisdiction for the trial date. The prosecutor responded by saying the complainant may leave before then to serve a sentence in the Bureau of Prisons (BoP), but will be able to return for the trial to testify if needed.

Parties are slated to reconvene Aug. 14.

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