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Defense Moves to Enforce Retracted Plea Agreement in Co-Defendant Murder Case

Two of the three co-defendants charged with first-degree murder requested to pursue a voided plea deal on April 25. Prosecutors said the wired plea agreement was retracted when Keith Baham rejected the offer. 

Raymond Avent, 23, Tyler Stringfield, 24, and Baham, 23, are held at the DC Jail for allegedly murdering Rafiq Hawkins, 23, on March 23, 2019, on the 1200 block of Brentwood Road, NE.

Avent, Baham, and Stringfield are charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence,  two counts of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business,  two counts of possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device,  two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a vehicle, fleeing a law enforcement officer, destruction of property less than $1,000, two counts of destruction of property $1,000 or more, and leaving after colliding with property damage or injury to an animal while armed.

Baham is also charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm due to a prior conviction.

The plea agreement in reference required all three co-defendants to enter a plea of guilty to one charge of second-degree murder while armed and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. Under the plea, if all defendants took it, they would serve 16 years in prison. 

However, Baham rejected the plea during Tuesday’s status hearing. His rejection of the plea resulted in its retraction for Avent and Stringfield. Both defendants’ attorneys, Leonard L. Long Jr. and Todd Baldwin, entered a verbal motion to enforce the plea. 

Long said his client signed the plea agreement with the understanding that it was unwired and, in the case the plea agreement is retracted, he would consider the action prosecutorial misconduct, or at the very least, an act committed in bad faith by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun said the parties raised interesting and valid arguments. He urged them to submit a written motion to enforce the plea agreement.

Even with the motion on record, the court scheduled a trial date for all three co-defendants. A jury trial is set for April 14, 2024. Counsel estimates the trial would take three weeks.

Parties are scheduled to return to court July 14 for a status hearing.

Injury of Witness in Non-Fatal Shooting Case Delays Hearing

On April 25, DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld rescheduled a motions hearing for a non-fatal shooting case due to a witness’s injury.

Marcedes Edmunds, 37, is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a shotgun or rifle outside a home or business, destruction of property worth $1,000 or more, and unlawful possession of ammunition in connection to an incident on the 4000 block of Haynes Street, NE on May 1, 2019. 

The prosecution told Judge Hertzfeld that their witness, an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), had been injured in an incident unrelated to this specific case and was unavailable to testify.

According to court documents, Edmunds counted out loud and by the time he got to three, the victim was shutting his car door and preparing to leave. The victim then heard a gunshot and observed blood coming from his leg.

“I’ll give you five seconds to get off my block,” Edmunds allegedly said shortly before the shooting.

Police were dispatched when the victim arrived at a local fire station with a visible gunshot wound to the leg and car damage. 

A trial is slated to begin May 15 and the motions hearing has been rescheduled to May 11.

5 Years Later: Attorneys Deliver Opening Statements In Double Murder Case

In order for trial to start DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt denied a murder defendant’s previously filed motion before DC Superior Court Judge Marsia Demeo. The motion claimed there was a violation concerning representatives of jury pools.

Alphonso Walker, 45, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to the death of Delonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, near the 400 block of 61st Street, NE on April 25, 2018. 

“You can’t have your cake and eat it too” said Judge Brandt to the defense about filing the motion and also going through with trial.

During opening statements on April 24, the prosecution asked the jury to find Walker guilty of every single charge, stating Walker chose to execute two people because he felt disrespected. 

According to the prosecution, Walker was involved in an argument with two women, one of them he paid $12 worth of drugs in exchange for sex and the other was the one who sold him the $12 worth of drugs.

After taking the drugs the woman, who was supposed to have sex with Walker, ran away from him without having sex, which made him mad, the prosecutor said. Walker then went to the woman who sold him drugs and asked for his money back. The woman told him that he needed to deal with the woman who ran away from him.

While arguing with her, according to the prosecution, a man pistol whipped Walker from the back and ran into a house where the shooting happened.  

Walker then followed the man into the house and shot Wilson, who was the first person he saw. He then tried asking Brown to give him all his money and when Brown did not cooperate, Walker shot him in the head and fled the house, the prosecutor said. 

Defense attorney Prescott Loveland told the jury that Walker is innocent and that the only fair and just verdict is a not guilty verdict otherwise this would become a tragedy. 

Loveland said Walker was never in the house where the  shooting happened, which is why the prosecution was not able to find his DNA. 

He also added that the prosecution’s case will rise and then fall because it is solely based on the testimonies of two people who cannot be believed or trusted. 

Both of the prosecution’s witnesses are individuals who benefited by pointing at an innocent person as the suspect, Loveland said.

One did it for the reward money, the other did it to sit in the witness’s chair instead of the defendant’s chair because he is the shooter, he explained.

One of the prosecution’s witnesses,a man who was in the house during the shooting,  was seen by neighbors running out with valuable items that belonged to the victims, according to the defense. 

After both parties delivered their statements, the prosecution called both of Brown and Wilson’s sisters to testify about the day their brothers were killed. 

Both sisters identified Brown and Wilson’s pictures and told the jury how they learned, from a phone call, that their brothers were shot and killed. 

Parties are scheduled to return to court on April 25.    

Defendant Tells Judge to ‘Shut Up’ in Shooting Case

During a probation show cause hearing on April 24, a defendant told DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan to “shut up” when hearing his resentence.

Anthony Cobbs, 35, was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for shooting another individual on Feb. 22, 2020, on the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

On Monday, Judge Ryan resentenced Cobbs to 26 months with credit for time served for attempted assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm due to a prior conviction. the sentences would run concurrently.

After hearing 26 months, Cobbs told Judge Ryan to “shut up.” He later apologized later.

Cobbs had his probation revoked and was resentenced because he failed to comply with drug treatment, as part of his original release conditions.

Cobbs was released to the custody of the Attorney General nd slated to serve the rest of the time in jail.

Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant Held in Domestic Incident

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe held a non-fatal shooting defendant during an initial hearing on April 24.

Lorenzo Shaw, 30, is charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault with a dangerous weapon in connection to a domestic incident on the unit block of Galveston Street, SW on April 23. 

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a domestic incident where Shaw allegedly pointed a gun at his wife, who was unharmed. Officers found a live round on the floor of a room where Shaw allegedly tried to gain entry. The two were in the process of separating and were arguing over the keys to a wheel lock. 

Judge Pipe found probable cause and held Shaw with two stay-away orders

Shaw is scheduled to return to court on April 27.

Non-Fatal Shooting Trial Moved from May to September

“There’s just too much material for me to be ready by the twenty-fourth,” said defense attorney Steven Polin. As new counsel, Polin requested the court reschedule the previously set May 24 trial date. 

Tavon Owens, 30, is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of unarmed carjacking, and one count of possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on the 1400 block of Newton Street, NW on Dec. 12, 2022. According to court documents, when Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrived at the scene, they made contact with the victim who was suffering from a gunshot wound to her left shin.

During the status hearing on April 24, Polin requested to delay the trial. He said he needed more time to familiarize himself with the case. 

The prosecution told DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow her team will be pursuing the indictment diligently and anticipates she will be ready by the original May 14 indictment deadline. Even so, the prosecutor did not object to a trial delay. 

After little deliberation, Judge Pasichow granted the request and set the new date for Sept. 12. 

The legal parties set the remaining dates for the trial calendar and the prosecution anticipated calling 10 to 15 witnesses, including two experts to analyze evidentiary items. 

“This is not your run-of-the-mill gun case,” Judge Pasichow assured the court.

Once the attorneys gave their estimates for trial length, Judge Pasichow set the calendar for a two-week-long trial.

Owens is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on Sept. 8. 

3 Co-Defendant Homicide Trial Date Pushed Back Two Weeks

During a motion hearing on April 21, DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo pushed a homicide trial date, for three co-defendants, back by two weeks to give one of the defense attorneys more time to prepare.

Vorreze Thomas, Jr., 25, Brianca Phillips, 26, and Delonta Stevenson, 28, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the death of 32-year-old Terrance Allen. Allen was shot and killed on the 3000 block of Stanton Road, SE, on Jan. 18, 2021. 

At the hearing, defense attorney Elizabeth Weller, who is representing Stevenson, explained that she had filed a motion to continue the trial date as she is currently serving as counsel in an ongoing homicide trial involving six co-defendants. Weller requested the delay because the trial is lasting longer than intended and she has not had enough time to prepare.

Weller also said she is willing to push back a later trial that she will be starting in June to proceed with the co-defendant trial then. 

Stevenson and Thomas are currently being held at the DC Jail. Because all of the defendants in Weller’s June case are on release, the three co-defendant trial takes priority.

Judge Demeo agreed to the request. The trial is now scheduled to begin on June 1.

The defense also filed three motions to sever the defendants, so their cases could be heard separately. These motions were discussed privately and will be ruled on at a later hearing.

The next motion hearing is scheduled for May 12.

Motions in Murder Case Pushed Back for Further Discussions

During a status hearing on April 21, motions for a bond review and Grand Jury materials were discussed between the parties, however, a future court dated was set for further review. 

Elhadji Ndiaye, 24, allegedly shot 21-year-old Travis Ruth on the 2700 block of Jasper Street, NE, on Jan. 18, 2019. Ndiaye is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during crime of violence, robbery while armed, tampering with physical evidence, destruction of property less than $1,000, and obstruction of justice. 

In regards to the bond review motion, the prosecution will need to respond with their opposition by April 26. Ndiaye is currently held at the DC Jail. 

During the hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein also set a date for a trial readiness hearing for Jan. 12, 2024. The trial is slated to start the following week on Jan. 22, 2024. 

The next motions hearing is set for May 11.  

Trial Deadlines Set While Parties Await DNA Testing Results in Homicide Case

During an April 21 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe set deadlines for trial preparations while parties wait for DNA testing results.

Darrell Moore, 45, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. Moore allegedly shot 37-year-old Julius Hayes on the 300 block of 18th Street, NE on April 3, 2020.

Defense attorney Stephen Logerfo, who recently joined the case, said he is still learning about the case but is equipped to proceed with the previously scheduled hearings. He said DNA testing results will not be ready for several months.

Judge O’Keefe set deadlines in September and October for motions and response deadlines, respectively.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Hayes between two parked cars suffering from six gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital. 

According to court documents, witness testimony alleges that Moore and Hayes were in an argument before the shooting.

Moore had been released from prison eight months before the incident. He and Hayes had been in the same prison facility in the past.

Trial is set for February 2024.

Moore is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 30.

Judge Gives Defendant Second Chance at Probation

During a probation show cause hearing on April 21, DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan`gave a defendant a second chance at probation in a shooting case.

Tyran Baker, 35, was charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device for shooting a firearm on Jan. 1, 2022, on the 3300 block of 13th Street, SE.

Baker was already sentenced on Sept. 1, 2022, for attempted possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device and unlawful discharge of a firearm. 

While on probation, Baker was arrested for carrying a pistol without a license in another case. A violation of his probation. 

Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) recommended Baker’s probation be revoked, but Judge Ryan decided to give him an additional six months of probation starting today. 

If Baker fails to comply, he will return to jail.