On March 28, Metropolitan Police Department detectives arrested 41-year-old Tiaquana Chandler for assault with intent to kill and burglary.
According to court documents, Chandler allegedly entered an apartment on the 3400 block of 13th Street, SE earlier on Mach 28 and assaulted and shot the victim.
DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein found probable cause connecting two defendants to the murder of Vernon Harrison,36. The ruling came during a preliminary hearing on March 29.
Twenty-nine-year-old Antione Tucker is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Harrison on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE on June 22, 2022.
Nakia Pearson, 29, is charged with being an accessory after the fact for allegedly assisting Tucker after the shooting by driving him away from the scene and disposing of his gun.
According to the prosecution, Tucker was attempting to rob Harrison while he was standing at a bus stop.
According to the lead detective in this case the getaway car belongs to Pearson. He said the car was later searched and items that belonged to Tucker were recovered including a social security card, ID, and credit card.
According to the detective, a witness who spoke to both Tucker and Pearson said they told her how Pearson disposed of the gun.
After being asked by defense attorney Pierce Suen, the detective added that the same witness previously received a substantial award in another homicide case that involved Pearson.
Defense attorneys said the evidence is weak and the court should not find probable cause.
However, the prosecution argued that they have more evidence that shows Tucker and Pearson at the location of the shooting when it happened.
Judge Epstein stated that there is enough evidence to connect both defendants to the murder.
Suen requested that Tucker be released on GPS monitoring and home confinement.
Judge Epstein denied his request due to the safety of the community and Tucker’s criminal history.
Pearson remains on release awaiting trial.
A felony arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 25.
During a status hearing on March 27, DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan set a second trial date for May 2024 for a murder defendant who was originally found guilty of second-degree murder while armed in 2009.
That verdict was overturned after the defense found evidence that Levon Williams had ineffective counsel, which is a violation of his constitutional right to adequate representation.
Williams won his appeal to a new trial due to his previous defense team being ineffective in various aspects of the pretrial and trial issues. These issues included a lack of interviewing key witnesses prior to and during the trial and not filing various motions that could have helped the case.
Williams hwrote to DC Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Alpin in 2009 regarding the issues with his counsel, yet no action was taken.
The murder occurred on April 21, 2008, on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW. Police responded to a 911 call where they found the victim, Ronald Thompson, with multiple stab wounds.
The new trial is estimated to run two weeks starting on May 14, 2024. A trial readiness hearing was scheduled for April 12, 2024.
During a March 27 status hearing, a defendant complained about his treatment at a jail in Northern Neck, VA.
The 44-year-old defendant is charged with multiple counts, including first-degree burglary while armed, counts of first-degree sexual abuse while armed, first-degree sexual abuse, and one count of first-degree child sexual abuse, kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, and obstruction. The defendant is also charged in a felony domestic violence case.
The defendant was jailed on charges that date back to incidents from between 1999 and 2007.
The assaults allegedly occurred on the 1400 block of Fairmont Street, NW between December 1999 and December 2000; the 1400 block of Euclid Street, NW on July 2, 2003; the 1700 block of Harvard Street, NW on June 3, 2007; and the 1400 block of Columbia Road, NW on Sept. 8, 2007.
The jail has been “negligent” in his medical care, the defendant said.
Another issue raised by defense attorney Howard Mceachern is the distance from the jail to Washington, DC. Mceachern currently drives 90 minutes each way in order to meet with his client.
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt agreed that trial preparations would be easier if the defendant were housed in the same jurisdiction as his attorney.
But, she explained she doesn’t have the judicial authority to relocate him. Brandt said she intends to communicate with the DC Jail and “see what [she] can do.”
A hearing on DNA evidence, along with trial readiness, is scheduled for April 19.
A trial date was set in a homicide case two months after the defendant was released on a technicality.
Christian Johnson is charged with first-degree murder in connection for allegedly shooting Lavonte McCould that occurred on the 1600 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE on Nov. 25, 2021.
According to witnesses, McCloud and Johnson had a tense relationship as well as a child with the same woman. Johnson is currently on release because the prosecution failed to file an indictment within the nine-month deadline.
In a Feb. 2 hearing, Johnson’s attorney Dominique Winters told DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun she needed more time to review relevant information before setting a trial date.
Almost two months later, during a March 28 hearing, she requested more time and to schedule another status hearing.
When questioned why she was in the same position as two months ago? Winters agreed to set a date.
However, the closest the prosecution had available was April 7, 2025, nearly three and a half years after Johnson was first charged.
Judge Okun agreed to set an additional status hearing as well. All parties are scheduled to reconvene on June 1.
On March 28, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt found probable cause for three of four charges against a defendant accused of sexual assault.
The defendant was charged with first-degree sexual abuse, attempt to commit first-degree sexual abuse, third-degree sexual abuse, and kidnapping for an alleged incident that occurred on Feb. 28 at the 1900 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW.
The lead detective testified in the case that the victim reported the assault after what seemed like a casual encounter.
According to court documents, the two were staying in a hostel where they had shared a room with two other people. The victim says the defendant approached her asking her how old she was and if she would like to have a drink. The victim declined.
The defendant then asked if she would “let him hit that,” meaning would she let him have sex with her. After she said no a second time, the defendant allegedly put his hand down the woman’s pants and touched her buttocks.
The suspect continued his advances by holding her arm, groping her breasts and touching her genitals. In order to get out of the room, she agreed to bring back some liquor to expedite sex. At that point she was able to get help.
Judge Brandt stated that, based on the testimony, she found probable cause for attempting to commit first-degree sexual abuse, third-degree sexual abuse, and kidnapping. However, she said there was insufficient evidence for a first-degree sexual abuse charge.
All parties are expected back in court for a felony status conference on June 1.
The murder trial for six defendants accused in the shooting of a 10-year-old girl continued March 28 after one of the six co-defendants’ release was revoked in a separate hearing, minutes before.
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.
According to the prosecution, Cobbs was arrested in Maryland and charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl pills and illegal possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.
Cobbs had been free since May of 2019, but due to his arrest DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun found probable cause and revoked his release. Cobbs was the only one out of the six defendants on release since he wasn’t present at the time of the shooting.
The prosecution called multiple former employees of DC’s Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) who were assigned to process the vehicle, and its contents, that was allegedly used in the crime.
The vehicle was found thanks to a tip in the form of a text that pointed detectives to the 3500 block of Burton Court in Maryland. While processing the vehicle the forensic experts found potential fingerprints, fired and unfired bullets, and swabbed commonly touched areas for potential DNA samples.
However, during her cross-examination, Murchison’s attorney, Carrie Weletz, revealed to the jury that DFS lost its accreditation in 2021 when the unit came under fire for how it was analyzing DNA evidence. Still, this was three years after the vehicle in question was processed.
The defense was unable to cross-examine the last witness called by the prosecution, so all parties are scheduled to reconvene and continue questioning on March 29.
This case was acquitted on Aug. 15, 2023.
On the third day of trial, a forensic pathologist from the DC Medical Examiner’s Office testified that multiple sharp force injuries were the cause of death in a homicide.
Jermaine Washington, 38, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Keon Bonner, 40, on the night of Oct. 26, 2021, in an alley on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW.
Using autopsy photos the pathologist explained on March 27 that the victim sustained 10 stab wounds, some as deep as seven inches. The cuts were inflicted on the victim’s face, both sides of his torso, upper-left back, left shoulder, and left hip.
Of the 10 stab wounds, two of them were apparently the most deadly. The two were on the victim’s left hip, where an artery had been punctured. The examiner explained that without immediate medical attention, an individual with that injury could bleed out within minutes.
In addition, the examiner explained that stab wounds could be deeper than the blade of a knife because vital organs can be compressed in the attack.
The detective who arrested Washington said he was searched and a knife was found in the waistband of his pants. The blade was approximately three inches long, fitting the description of the murder weapon.
DNA tests on blood samples from the victim and the accused were inconclusive in terms of links to the crime.
The medical examiner was the prosecution’s final witness and the defense does not intend to call any witnesses.
The trial is set to continue with deliberations beginning on March 28.
DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz ordered a mental competency screening during a March 29 hearing for a self-inflicted non-fatal shooting case.
Jermaine Brown, 34, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in connection to an incident on Feb. 4 on the 3700 block of Cathedral Avenue, NW.
According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department officers patrolling the block reported a weapon found on a sidewalk area by a tree.
On the same day, a 911 call was dispatched to Washington University Hospital for a shooting victim that arrived at the emergency room.
According to DC police, Brown and his significant other were having an argument while driving. During the argument, Brown allegedly stated that everyone would be better off without him.
She then heard a gunshot and observed Brown bleeding from the leg. At this time, Brown allegedly threw the gun out of the window of the moving vehicle.
Defense Attorney Tammy Jacques is now representing Brown. The next hearing is scheduled for April 6.
A lead detective in a homicide case testified about evidence linking 25-year-old Demonte Gibson to the crime during a March 27 preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt.
Gibson is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting 34-year-old Delonte King. The incident occurred on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW on Nov. 3, 2021. According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers discovered two victims on the scene, both with gunshot wounds. The first victim survived, but King was pronounced dead on Nov. 5, 2021, when he succumbed to his injuries from the attack.
The detective explained how surveillance videos from the surrounding area aided in his investigation, as well as the execution of a search warrant at Gibson’s apartment.
Although there was no video of the actual shooting, footage does show three possible suspects fleeing the scene following the sound of gunshots.
The detective said one suspect in the video was wearing a ski mask and light wash jeans, similar to the clothing that MPD recovered from Gibson’s apartment.
He also said Gibson identified himself, saying “that’s me,” when seeing a still image retrieved from a surveillance camera.
Defense attorneys Kevann Gardner and Rachel Cicural noted the original warrant used the same surveillance footage for someone other than Gibson.
Gardner argued against the reliability of the surveillance footage, stating that “these videos will show whatever the [prosecution] wants them to show.”
He also noted that, although the clothing seized from Gibson’s apartment and the clothing seen in the surveillance footage are similar, this doesn’t mean that they are an exact match.
“Jeans are not unique,” he said.
Judge Brandt said she needs to re-examine the evidence before making a ruling about admissibility.
The next hearing was scheduled on March 29.
A defense attorney in a murder trial asked DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan to dismiss a case because key DNA evidence was destroyed.
The suspect, 21-year-old Daquan Gray, is charged with fatally shooting 15-year-old Jaylyn Wheeler, on May 16, 2018, in the 600 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. According to court documents, DNA extracts were taken from the murder weapon and tested at the DC Department of Forensic Sciences.
During a March 24 motions hearing, a specialist from the department testified about possible damage to DNA evidence that may have been improperly stored. The expert witness explained the process of packing, storing, and shipping DNA extracts.
Claiming gross negligence, defense attorney Dana Page asked Judge Raffinen to dismiss the case based on destroyed evidence as of Jan. 5, 2023. She accused the prosecution of acting in bad faith in handling the material.
Testimony in the case is scheduled to resume on May 12.
During a March 24 sentencing hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced Darnell Sterling to 27 years in prison.
Darnell Sterling, 57, was convicted of murdering 34-year-old Olga Ooro in her apartment on the 300 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW. According to court documents, the crime occurred on July 17, 2020, and authorities were alerted the next day when Ooro’s 7-year-old son was found in her apartment building alone.
A jury found Sterling guilty of contempt and second-degree murder on Oct. 3, 2022, and Judge Raffinan later determined that both of these crimes occurred during Sterling’s release in a 2020 domestic violence case that also involved Ooro.
The prosecution submitted nine victim impact statements, and Ooro’s family and friends appeared both in-person and virtually for the Friday sentencing.
Ooro’s father had tears in his eyes as he recalled how his “brave” daughter helped him through his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
“He has not only killed Olga. He has killed us. He has killed our whole family,” the victim’s father said.
Then, turning directly to Sterling, he stated, “You killed me.”
Ooro requested that Judge Raffinan impose the maximum sentence on Sterling.
Sterling maintained his innocence and plans to appeal the conviction.
Judge Raffinan said she took into consideration the impact statements, as well as Sterling’s extensive criminal history, including 34 arrests and 14 convictions, when making her decision.
She noted the many “tragic and disturbing factors” in the case.
“[Sterling’s] statements,” Judge Raffinan said, “show no indication of remorse.”
She sentenced Sterling to 22 years in prison for second-degree murder and 20 months for contempt, with an additional 20 consecutive months for each of the offenses, which were committed while Sterling was on release.
“How is he still out? This is absolutely unfair and a slap in the face to my entire family and Dasha’s loved ones,” a victim’s mother said during a motion hearing over Webex on March 28.
Nineteen-year-old Gerald Thomas is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in a shooting that left four victims injured and 20-year-old Dasha Cleary dead. The shooting occurred on Jan. 27, 2022, at a Days Inn Hotel, located on the 4400 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW. Thomas is currently under total home confinement and GPS monitoring in connection to the shooting.
During the hearing, the prosecution renewed a request to revoke a previous release order and asked for Thomas to be jailed based on recent indictments for drug-related charges.
Judge Raffinan stated that she wanted time to consider the matter.
But, Cleary’s mother wasn’t satisfied.
“How do I explain to my remaining children that our system is so broken and allows him to stay on release after he killed their sister and still have access to illegal guns and weapons,” she asked in frustration.
Meanwhile, defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman expressed concern that the prosecution waited for more than a month before filing a motion to revoke home confinement only a day before the hearing.
Cadman said the defense was planning on asking for Thomas to be taken off home confinement and not respond to the motion.
Cadman reminded DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan that there aren’t any new violations other than the ones that were presented by the prosecution in January when the court denied a request to jail Thomas.
According to pretrial services, Thomas has been in full compliance while on home confinement.
Judge Raffinan reminded Thomas to continue to comply with the orders in place.
Another motion hearing is scheduled for April 13.
This case was acquitted on Aug. 15, 2023.
After closing arguments on March 28, the jury began deliberations in a homicide case.
Jermaine Washington, 39, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the stabbing of Keon Terell Bonner, 40. The incident allegedly occurred on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW and 3500 block of Center Street, NW on Oct. 26, 2021.
Defense attorney Stephen Logerfo argued that the prosecution did not meet its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Logerfo noted a defense motion to suppress statements filed March 21 regarding a conversation between Washington and two Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives at Washington’s residence on Nov. 7, 2021.
He questioned why an officer with a body-worn camera that could have recorded the conversation did not accompany the detective when he visited Washington. Logerfo restated the problematic nature of the unrecorded conversation in his closing statement.
He also discussed the lack of physical evidence in the case. A knife that appeared consistent with the one used to stab Bonner was found on Washington when he was arrested.
However, there was no conclusive evidence of whose blood was on the knife or if that was the exact knife that killed Bonner.
Eyewitness testimony was the only evidence that tied Washington to the alley where Bonner was stabbed, and witnesses only gave a general description that was similar to Washington’s appearance.
The prosecution argued that Washington was the only probable assailant because he was seen on surveillance footage walking out of an apartment complex with Bonner eleven minutes before the stabbing. The prosecutor also stated that witness descriptions fit Washington.
The jury has begun deliberations and is scheduled to continue deliberating on March 29.
DC Superior Court Judge Heidi M. Pasichow advised a non-fatal shooting defendant to become acquainted with his new attorney, before he requests a new one.
The 37-year-old defendant is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault with significant bodily injury. According to court documents, the defendant started a dispute with his child’s mother on the 2400 block of James Bank Road, SE which resulted in an assault.
On March 28, the defendant appeared in court for an ascertainment of counsel hearing. His original defense attorney, Kevin C. Robertson, was present along with his newly appointed counsel, Darryl Daniels II.
Robertson ensured a smooth transition in the case.
Daniels introduced himself to the court and informed Judge Pasichow that he believed the defendant’s family was actively seeking alternative counsel.
Judge Pasichow advised the defendant against the appointment of new counsel before he had the time to meet with Daniels. “You cannot come into a courtroom without counsel,” said Judge Pasichow.
The defendant attempted to represent himself at the start of the case.
He is scheduled to return to court April 12 for another status hearing.
