Preliminary Hearing Continues in Hospital Sex Assault Case

On April 12, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein granted a continuance for a preliminary hearing in a sexual assault case concerning a hospital employee and patient.

A 63-year-old defendant is charged with second-degree sexual abuse of a patient or client in connection to an incident at Bridgepoint Hospital on the 200 block of 7th Street, NE on Dec. 27, 2022.

The defendant was an employee at the hospital at the time of the incident.

Defense attorney Nikki Lotze, who was new to the case, requested a continuance. Attorney Jania Reed filed a motion to withdraw as counsel prior and was granted permission.

According to court documents, the victim was a patient at the hospital. She stated the defendant came into her room multiple times complimenting her.

The victim said he came back to her room multiple times to reposition her legs because she could not feel anything from the waist down. While he was doing so, he allegedly asked the victim if he could suck on her breasts.

The victim said she originally said no, but the defendant “snapped back” and she submitted out of fear.

When interviewed by police, the defendant stated he had been working in the medical sector for 23 years and there were no allegations against him for sexual assault.

However, according to court documents, he was arrested in 1996 for first-degree rape in Prince George’s County, Md.

DNA swabs were obtained from the victim during the investigation. According to the case report, swabs of the victims’ breasts showed that DNA could have come from the defendant.

The continued preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 5.

Judge Continues Preliminary Hearing in Murder Case

On April 12, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan continued a preliminary hearing for a first-degree murder case due to scheduling conflicts.

Devin Washington, 22, is charged for his alleged connection to a shooting that occurred on Feb. 15, 2022, on the 3800 block of 9th Street, SE that claimed 20-year-old Vincent Robinson’s life.

The prosecution argued that Washington killed Robertson by questioning the lead detective in the case to assist the prosecutor’s argument on probable cause.

According to the detective, there is a video of Robinson leaving through the rear of a building at the scene followed by Washington. Once they walked out of the camera’s frame, a flash of light reflected off a brick wall and windows.

The detective said the flash of light seen on that surveillance footage is the gunshot that claimed Robinson’s life, as it happens in the direct area where the victim’s body was found.

Due to scheduling conflicts, the detective was unable to finish his testimony, and the preliminary hearing was continued.

All parties are expected back in court to continue the testimony on April 13.

Judge Denies Defense Motion for Release

A sexual assault defendant was denied release in a DC Superior Court hearing on April 11.

The 29-year-old defendant was charged with second-degree attempted child sex abuse in an incident involving two girls, one 10 years old and the other 11. The pair was on the way to school.

In court, defense attorney Joseph D. Edward said the defendant is homeless and lives in a shelter in Maryland. He requested a release of his client to Judge Anthony Epstein. Edward explained that the defendant will have “every incentive to show up to court” given his circumstances.

“They have the right to feel safe on a bus, but anywhere they go,” Judge Epstein said referring to the two girls. According to court documents, the incident occurred on April 6, 2023, on the 3500 block of Georgia Avenue, NW, when the defendant verbally harassed two minors on a Metrobus.

A school official saw the suspect exit the Metrobus and chase after the two minors near their school, according to court documents. He allegedly grabbed one of the victims by her jean loop attempting to pull her pants down. The victim kicked the defendant and both complainants fled.

The suspect was apprehended by responding officers. No injuries were reported.

The defendant is being held in DC Jail where he will remain until a felony status conference hearing.

Judge Epstein denied the defense request for release.

Both parties are scheduled to reconvene on April 21.

After Turning Himself In, Defendant Pleads Not-Guilty In A Murder Case

On April 12, a defendant entered a not-guilty plea to all charges before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe and asserted his rights to a speedy trial.

Alphonso Oliver, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, and carrying a pistol without a license for allegedly shooting 16-year-old Levoire Simmons. The shooting occurred on July 5, 2022 on the 700 block of Kenilworth Terrace, NE.

At the time of the murder, Oliver was on supervised release after serving a 12-year sentence for an aggravated assault conviction.

Defense attorney Joseph McCoy requested all additional evidence from prosecution and to discuss a request to release Oliver pending trial.

“I am certainly not inclined to address an oral request for release in a first-degree murder”, Judge O’Keefe responded.

A status hearing is scheduled for April 26.

Homicide Defendant Held After Noncompliance With Release Conditions

After hearing of his noncompliance with release conditions, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan revoked a homicide defendant’s release during an April 10 pretrial show cause hearing.

Derricko Johnson, 19, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the death of 16-year-old Justin Johnson. The incident occurred in the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE on May 26, 2022.

Johnson violated curfew on March 5 and was arrested on new charges on April 5, including unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Citing these incidents, and hinting at the “growing strength of the case,” the prosecution requested Johnson’s release be revoked.

Defense Attorney Kevann Gardner said Johnson has been on release for nine months, and these are the only times in which he hasn’t been compliant.

However, Judge Raffinan determined that these incidents are enough to warrant a revocation of release.

A felony status conference is scheduled for June 2.

Defendant’s Instagram Videos from Day of Homicide Litigated in Court

Instagram posts from three defendants accused of killing a child were under scrutiny at an April 11 session of an ongoing murder trial.

Gregory Taylor, 26, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah Murchison, 22, and Marquell Cobbs, 21, are six of 10 defendants charged with first-degree murder, criminal street gang affiliation, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill, and other charges regarding a fatal drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson. The shooting happened on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018.

The prosecution introduced multiple videos from three of the defendants’ Instagram pages to be litigated before being admitted into evidence.

Jeffers can be seen wearing the same clothes he was alleged to have worn the day of the shooting in the hours before and after it occurred. Additional videos also depict Thomas in the presence of firearms the day before the drive-by shooting.

Additionally, the videos show almost all the defendants rapping along to a song about homicide only two hours after Wilson was shot. Most of the defendants can be seen singing along with a lyric about why they are the reason the homicide rate is so high.

The prosecution and defense have repeatedly argued whether singing or rapping along to a song equals adopting the message in the lyrics.

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun said that the defense could argue that their clients are simply singing along with the song, but conceded that the timing and song choice of the defendants does add to the weight and relevance of the videos.

Evidence, including texts, from Cobbs’ phone, between him and his co-defendants warning each other to stay away from areas where police were searching or investigating after the shooting was also revealed as evidence.

Additionally, there are texts that show Cobbs overseeing how to get firearms a little over a week before the shooting as well as a group text between the defendants regarding the location of shared firearms.

Additional discussions of the evidence presented are expected to come up again as the trial continues on April 12.

Trial Date Proposed To Change In Murder Case

During April 11 court proceedings DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan postponed the rescheduling a trial date.

Martinez Raynor, 23, and Tony Morgan, 29, are being held for allegedly shooting Malik McCloud,19, on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE on Oct. 20, 2018.

Raynor is charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, felony murder while armed aggravating circumstances, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of carrying a pistol without a license, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance while armed.

Morgan is charged with first-degree murder while armed. conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed under aggravating circumstances, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Morgan requested and received new counsel Steven Kiersh back in February. Kiersh stated that he is still waiting on DNA testing and does not have an estimate on when he will receive the results. He had no objection to continuing the trial date.

The prosecution also had no objection to the trial date being continued.

Raynor also recently received new counsel because his previous lawyer reassigned. Defense attorney David Knight requested more time to take a position because he has not had a discussion with Raynor about the case yet.

Parties are scheduled to return to court on May 2 to finalize a trial date.

Defense Requests Independent DNA Testing in Homicide Case

Defense attorneys Jason Clark and Gemma Stevens requested independent DNA testing on two evidentiary samples in an April 11 homicide case hearing.

Amard Jefferson, 24, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the murder of Kendall Brown on the 3000 block of Nelson Place SE on Aug. 7, 2021.

The prosecution discussed DNA testing results from seven evidentiary samples. Of those samples, two included the firearm used in the murder and a separate magazine found during the arrest.

According to court documents, Brown and three other witnesses were all friends and present at the crime scene. There was a falling out between the friends due to one witness’s boyfriend, who was identified as Jefferson.

Jefferson allegedly shot Brown after an argument.

Stevens and Clark requested to independently test those two swabs.

A trial readiness hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2024.

Case Acquitted: Judge Denies Release Motion in Second-Degree Murder Case

This case was acquitted on Aug. 15, 2023.

On April 11, DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz denied a motion for release filed by defense attorneys for Jermaine Washington.

Washington, 39, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the stabbing of Keon Terrell Bonner, 40, which occurred on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW on Oct. 26, 2021.

Stephen Logerfo, defense attorney for Washington, argued that, due to the mistrial from a hung jury, his client deserved to be released as he is no longer a danger to society.

Prosecutors opposed that motion, stating that the defendant’s lengthy criminal history proves that he is a danger to society.

Judge Leibovitz agreed with the prosecutors, stating that the evidence supports the prosecutors’ arguments, and it would be unsafe to release him.

Parties are set to reconvene on April 20 to allow the defense more time to discuss a plea offer made by prosecutors.

Trial preparations Begin in Co-Defendant Shooting Case

Trial preparations began in an April 11 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe for a co-defendant non-fatal shooting case.

Tyrone Hawkins, 22 and Clint Broadus, 24 are being held in connection to an incident on the 1300 block of Gallaudet Street NE on Sept. 23, 2021. Hawkins is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Broadus is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to court documents, the victim said two suspects drove by his residence in a blue SUV. They asked the victim “Where the weed at?” When the victim replied he had no marijuana, the car drove away.

Minutes later, the two suspects approached the victim on the street from different directions. The victim told police he was worried he was about to be robbed due to one of the suspects wearing a black ski mask.

The victim then took out a can of mace and sprayed one of the suspects. As a result, the other suspect allegedly drew a firearm and began shooting, documents state.

The victim sustained a wound to the left arm.

The prosecution and defense discussed pre-trial scheduling, motions and expert notice.

The trial is scheduled for Oct. 16 and the next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15.

Judge Moves Sentencing in Non-fatal Shooting Case

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan delayed sentencing in a shooting case by a week because the defense needs more time to consider the facts.

Joseph Washington, 23, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license in relation to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on the 5000 block of Astor Place, SE on Oct. 8, 2022.

On April 10, Judge Ryan read the defendant’s statement explaining that after the argument got heated between the defendant’s girlfriend and the complainants Washington stepped in when things turned physical.

“I know where I went wrong and my actions were impulsive,” Judge Ryan said while reading a statement from the defendant.

Prior to this hearing, the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license. Both charges were accepted by Judge Ryan. However, after reading out the defendant’s statement Judge Ryan said he believes that the case could be self-defense.

Judge Ryan asked Washington if he shot the gun in self-defense. The defendant didn’t reply and expressed that he needed to have a ready answer. He told the defense that he will give both Washington and defense attorney Nicholas Lauckland time to negotiate and set a new sentencing date.

“I don’t want anyone pleading guilty to something they know they didn’t do”. Judge Ryan said.

According to court documents, an argument between Washington and two female victims that were grazed by gunfire was over trash being left in the hallway of their apartment.

Then the complainant’s husband reportedly stepped in to break up the fight by choking Washington. He reaches for his gun to fight against the husband and ends up shooting the two female victims.

Both parties are set to reconvene on April 20.

Fingerprint Expert Matches Co-Defendants to Car Used to Transport Victim

During a trial on April 10, the prosecution called a finger print expert who match fingerprints from a car to the murder defendants.

Gregory Taylor, 26, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah Murchison, 22, and Marquell Cobbs, 21, are six of 10 defendants charged with first-degree murder, criminal street gang affiliation, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill, and other charges regarding a fatal drive-by shooting that resulted in Makiyah’s death. The shooting happened on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018.

The fingerprints analyzed were retrieved from a Honda that was allegedly used to transport one of the victims of the shooting to a local hospital.

According to a special police officer, a car approached the ambulance entrance at George Washington University Hospital. There was allegedly a person in the car who was injured. The officer told Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers that he went back into the hospital to get medical personnel, but when he returned, the third person was gone.

The prosecutor showed surveillance footage of the incident described by the officer. The officer’s testimony lined up with the footage, although there was one discrepancy.

The surveillance footage shows the third individual placing an object behind a pillar, which was out of sight of the witness.

The fingerprint expert was able to match Michaels, Cobbs, Murchison, and Taylor’s fingerprints to those on the car.

In a photograph of the fingerprints, there were different colored dots which indicated where the witness felt confident there was a match or not confident, with some levels in between.

During cross examination, the defense asked the witness why he did not see a match in one photograph but still made an identification against one of the defendants.

The witness said the inconsistency could result from a number of possibilities and that there were too many other similarities to not make an identification.

However, one of Murchison’s defense attorney said fingerprint experts have made mistakes in the past and are not always 100 percent correct.

The trial is scheduled to continue on April 11.

Defendant Sentenced to Seven Years Incarceration for Sexual Abuse

On April 7, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced William Romero to a total of 7 years for sexually abusing his two underaged nieces.

Romero, 24, had originally been charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of second-degree sexual abuse in connection to incidents that occurred between December 2019 and December 2020, and an incident that occurred on Nov. 27, 2021.

He accepted an offer from prosecutors and pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of attempted second-degree sexual abuse.

According to court documents, Romero was babysitting his sister’s two daughters, then seven and five years old, when the incident occurred.

He went into the bedroom where the 5-year-old was playing on her phone, got in bed with her, performed oral sex on her, and raped her, according to court documents.

According to the victim’s parents, the girls brought up the issue to them a few days after the 2021 incident. Both girls were taken to receive care from doctors at a hospital, where they both tested positive for chlamydia.

The victims’ parents made impact statements at the sentencing hearing. The father, in an emotional testimony, told the court that the past year has been extremely difficult for him and his family.

He argued that Romero shows no remorse for his actions and asked Judge Raffinan to change things for the community because “people like him [the defendant] don’t belong in our society.”

Likewise, the victims’ mother told the court “I’m here to beg [the judge] to please think of my daughters as she makes her decision… He [the defendant], was someone that was supposed to care for them and protect them, and instead damaged them for life.”

Looking into his eyes, the victims’ mother told Romero that she hopes he will feel remorse at some point, and that she prays God will forgive him for his actions.

Prosecutors asked Judge Raffinan to impose a 60 month sentence for the second-degree sexual abuse charge, a 24 month sentence for the attempted second-degree sexual abuse charge, supervised release, and for the defendant to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Julie Swaney, Romero’s defense attorney, argued that the sentence asked for by the prosecutors is excessive for this case, stating that the defendant endured several traumatic experiences that led him to act the way he acted.

Swaney asked Judge Raffinan to leave him on release to be able to receive treatment necessary to become a better person. If the defendant is imprisoned, he will be targeted by other inmates due to the crime he confessed to, she said.

Romero told the court to tell his sister, the victims’ mother, he understood the incident was not an easy thing to deal with. He said he is also a dad and has not been able to be with his son and is worried that he will not be able to be there for the twins he’s expecting.

Romero went on to argue that if he was released, it would be his second chance at being a good father.

Judge Raffinan told the court she appreciated all statements given, and that she took them all into consideration for her imposed sentence.

Judge Raffinan sentenced Romero to a total of 84 months for both charges, with 10 year supervised release and 2 years of probation. He is also expected to register as a sex offender and undergo sex offender evaluation and treatment.

Judge Raffinan also told Romero that he is to staying away from the two victims and their parents, and is not allowed to have any unsupervised interactions with anyone under the age of 18.

The defendant, who was on release before his sentencing, was taken into custody by US Marshals to serve his sentence.

Defendant Enters Not-guilty Plea

On April 10, the defendant in a non-fatal shooting case was arraigned before a DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Johnathan Jones, 37 is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition for allegedly firing shots in the air on Feb. 8 on the 800 block of H Street, NW.

The offer included Jones pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm the prosecution would dismiss all other charges and enhancement.

According to court documents, a witness observed Jones saying something out loud before he took out the gun from his waistband and fired multiple shots into the air.

Defense attorney Page Resnick informed the court that a plea offer was rejected in a previous hearing and the defense would like to go to trial

The prosecution asked for the closest trial date possible since Jones is detained

Judge Arthur scheduled a trial date for May 17.

A trial readiness hearing is scheduled for April 27.

Trial Date Set In Double Murder Case

Five years after the murder of Jermaine Bowens and Elijah Henry, a trial date is finally scheduled for 2025.

Twenty-three-year-old James Mayfield is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed, three counts of robbery while armed, attempt to commit robbery while armed, three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, threat to kidnap or injure a person, assault with dangerous weapon, 11 counts of possession of firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license and possession of unregistered firearm. The charges stemmed from multiple incidents that occurred between Dec. 26 and Dec. 27 of 2017, including the alleged shootings that caused the death of Bowens, 38, and Henry, 21.

Mayfield allegedly committed the crime while he had an arrest warrant issued against him on Oct 25, 2017, in connection with the shooting of Jhamari Sydnor,17, on Aug. 10, 2017, at the intersection of Montana and Saratoga Avenue, NE.

On Dec. 26, 2017, Bowens was found by MPD officers with multiple gunshots to his lower body on the 2000 block of 22nd Street, NE. He was transferred to Medstar/Washington Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The next morning on Dec. 27, 2017, Mayfield allegedly attempted to rob a man while armed on the 3000 block of Berry Street, NE. The male was able to flee and report the robbery to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Mayfield was later arrested after the male identified Mayfield as the individual who tried to rob him.

After Mayfield was searched, MPD officers allegedly found a gun tucked to his pants, according to court documents. The gun was later examined and deemed the same gun that was used in the alleged shooting of Bowens and Henry.

Earlier that day, while hanging out with his friends in a townhouse on the 1800 block of Bryant Street, NE, Mayfield got into an argument with Henry over a coat. The argument resulted in Mayfield reportedly shooting Henry. He was found lifeless with a gunshot wound on his upper right shoulder, according to court documents.

During the investigation, a witness who was in the townhouse where Henry was found told the detective that “Jamo” who shot Henry along with an associate known as “Phill” went up to “Toga” and shot up the area where a girl was shot.

The detective recognized the description as the murder of Syndor in Saratoga.

The detective then retrieved a flyer that had Mayfield’s picture on it soliciting the public’s help with his arrest for the murder of Syndor. After seeing the flyer the witness immediately pointed at the photo and said “That’s him, right there, that’s “Jamo”, he ain’t got dreads no more”, court document stated.

Jurors found Mayfield guilty of all charges regarding Syndor’s murder on Dec. 8, 2022, however, the case is still pending sentencing after defense filed a motion for a new trial regarding a juror who turned out to have gone to the same school as Mayfield.

During an April 7 court proceeding both parties explained to DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe why this case is taking so long.

Defense attorney Veronica Holt on behalf of Mayfield stated that this trial is trailing the murder trial of Syndor and has been put on hold until Syndor’s trial is over.

Prosecution informed the court that this case has been on the back burner while the Syndor case is ongoing.

Both cases involving Mayfield came at the same time because after he killed Syndor, Mayfield reportedly went on a “ crime spree” that involved nine victims including Henry and Bowens, the prosecution said.

Based on both parties’ availability, trial, in this case, is slated to start on Jan 27, 2025.

“That’s seven and a half years after the fact,” Judge O’Keefe said.

“Given the matters against him that should not be a problem regarding him being detained,” Holt responded.

Holt also asked the prosecution to hand over additional evidence regarding the murder charges.

A status hearing is scheduled for April 21.

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