Metropolitan Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help in connection to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Feb. 23, on the 200 block of 55th Street, NE.
According to a press release, at about 5:06 pm, officers located an adult male victim at a local hospital seeking treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a traffic fatality that occurred on Feb. 21, on the 3000 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW.
According to a press release, a 2019 Tesla Model 3 carrying five people was going south in the left travel lane in the 3000 block of Connecticut Avenue, Northwest, at around 7:50 a.m. The Tesla impacted a 2018 Toyota C-HR before slamming into a 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML-350 head-on after crossing the solid-double yellow lines and moving into the northbound lane of traffic. The Tesla was then struck by a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox that was also moving in the direction of north.
The driver of the Tesla, 21-year-old Mohammed Islam was pronounced dead on Feb. 26.
During a Feb. 24 hearing, the defense asked DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan to release a child sex abuse defendant’s passport.
“Its been about a year and [the defendant] has not been able to go to Guatemala to see his family,” defense attorney, Hannah Claudio said.
According to Claudio, the defendant has children and his 93-year-old sister, who isn’t in great health, in Guatemala who he wants to visit.
“He is not a flight risk,” she said.
The prosecution vehemently objected.
“Right now he is facing charges that are very serious,” the prosecutor said. “He was abusing people in his truck. If convicted he could be sentenced to life in prison.”
The prosecutor said the defendant has a strong incentive to not return if he leaves the country.
According to court documents, the 63-year-old defendant engaged in multiple sexual acts with multiple girls between the ages of 9-13 from 2004 to 2010.
According to court documents, the sexual assaults took place while his spouse, who ran an in-home daycare at their apartment, would leave the kids with the defendant for a number of hours.
Judge Raffinan said she is not prepared to make a decision but will make a ruling at the next scheduled hearing on March 31.
She asked the defense to file the motion for the defendants passport to be released to him by March 6 and the prosecution must respond by March 20.
DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo set a new date for a motions hearing due to witness availability.
Kenneth Stewart, 61, is currently facing charges of first-degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon. Stewart allegedly stabbed the victim, 54-year-old Courtney Jones, on July 23, 2020.
The hearing held on Feb. 27 was originally set as a motions hearing for the 2020 homicide case; however, it was converted to a virtual status hearing. The defense waived the defendant’s appearance for the hearing.
The stabbing occurred on the side of the road on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
Stewart, among other witnesses, were together in a car, driving home from a day of shopping, according to court documents. The driver of the car pulled over on the highway due to Stewart’s aggressive behavior towards the victim. Stewart allegedly got out of the car once it had pulled over, opened the car door on the victim’s side, and started stabbing him.
Jones died from the injuries he endured at the Prince Georges Hospital nearly two and a half hours after the crime had occurred.
Stewart has been held at the D.C. Jail with no bail since the incident took place. This case is set to go to trial on June 19, 2024, nearly four years after the initial incident took place.
The next motions hearing is set for June 28.
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt denied the defense’s motion for release to a half-way house to guarantee the safety of the victim.
The 43-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree sexual abuse while armed for an alleged sexual act on Nov. 3, 2022, on the 5500 block of Chillum Place, NW.
The victim was screaming while the defendant licked her face and neck, according to court documents Another male, who was present in the house, said to the defendant “don’t make anyone do anything they don’t want to do.”.
The defendant reportedly pushed her onto the bed and removed her pants and underwear when she attempted to leave. He placed a black handgun in front of her. The victim reported being in fear for her life after he told her “that’s the shit that gets people killed” before he licked and penetrated the victim’s vagina with his penis while he was on top of her, according to court documents.
On Feb 24, during a motions hearing, defense attorney Thomas Healy requested that the defendant be released to a half-way house he previously contacted and was able to reserve a bed. The defense stated that since the defendant’s DNA was not found on the victim’s private area and the victim’s DNA was not found on defendant’s private areas it’s an allegation, and the defendant is not guilty.
The prosecution opposed the defense’s request, stating that the defendant is not able to follow orders outside of jail or inside based on his prior criminal record, including first-degree theft, drug possession, assault with dangerous weapons, and escape from an institution.
In addition, DNA test results showed the defendant’s DNA was found on the victim’s neck and cheeks.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant also sent his uncle a letter that included the victim’s phone number, address and name asking the uncle to “scare that lying bitch”. DC Jail also informed the prosecution of the defendant’s attempts to call the victim.
The prosecutor said tampering with witness charges will be added to the defendant’s case.
The defense responded by saying a motion regarding the added charges will be filed regarding those charges. The defendant also waived his right to independent DNA testing.
The defendant’s request for release has been previously denied more than one time and nothing has changed since then.
A status hearing is scheduled for April 4.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating a vehicle in connection to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Feb. 25, on the 4400 block of Quarles Street, NE.
According to a press release, at about 8:44 pm, officers located an adult male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives have made an arrest in connection to a homicide that occurred on Feb. 26, on the 3300 block of D Street, SE.
According to a press release, at about 1:17 pm, officers located 57-year-old David Wright and 54-year-old Nathaniel Howard inside a residence, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Later that day, 41-year-old James Jones was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree murder while armed.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Feb. 25, on the 1500 block of First Street, SW.
According to a press release, at about 8:44 pm, officers located 30-year-old Kevin Sharp suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Feb. 23, on the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE.
According to a press release, at about 11:10 pm, officers located 30-year-old Dimitri Remache suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
At a status hearing on Feb. 24, stand-in attorneys for both the prosecution and defense were forced to set a date for the next hearing without any knowledge on the case.
Christian Monge, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 31-year-old Brittanie Clark. Monge allegedly stabbed Clark in a residence on the 5000 block of First Street, NW on Aug. 31, 2021, after Clark and Monge’s girlfriend had gotten into an altercation about their relationship.
Due to a scheduling miscommunication, Monge’s defense attorney Anthony Matthews was not able to make the hearing. Kevann Gardner, who was in the courtroom for an earlier hearing, served as a stand-in.
The prosecution also required a stand-in due to undisclosed circumstances.
Because the attorneys on both sides were stand-ins, they did not have enough knowledge or information about the case for the hearing to proceed.
DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun scheduled the next hearing, but it is subject to change according to the schedule of the attorneys on the case.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 3.
During a Feb. 24 hearing, both the prosecution and defense agreed they did not want to delay the June 13 deadline for a Grand Jury
Malik Seltzer, 27, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Paris Odemns on the 4000 block of 1st Street, SE on Sept. 15, 2021.
The prosecution offered a 2-month extension for a possible plea offer. However, if no plea offer was extended, then the Grand Jury deadline would still be set for June 13.
Kevann Gardner, attorney for the defendant, requested the prosecution provide a document that includes the witnesses and evidence that will be presented at trial. The prosecutor consented.
DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun scheduled the next status hearing for April 28.
During a Feb. 24 status hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun rejected a motion to release a defendant to home confinement in a homicide case.
On Nov. 30, 2022, 23-year-old Anthony Lewis was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the homicide of 19-year-old Cameron Clemons that occurred on May 28 on the 600 block of Otis Place, NW.
Lewis’ representation, Julie Swaney, requested release into home confinement with hopes of a more positive environment for the defendant on the basis that Lewis acted out of self-defense. However, Judge Okun decided to reject the motion in accordance with a previous judge’s decision.
At a preliminary hearing on Jan. 4, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein, who reviewed this case, found substantial probability and held Lewis at the DC Jail.
“There’s nothing I heard that would make me reconsider Judge Epstein’s decision.” said Judge Okun.
Swaney said the defendant had a criminal history, but the charges were all non-violent crimes and Lewis never had trouble showing up to court when supposed to.
She also noted Lewis’ previous charge for attempted carrying of a pistol without license outside of home or business but explained that Lewis was simply carrying a gun to protect himself due to the dangerous nature of his neighborhood.
According to Swaney, the defendant has an uncle who works for the state in Maryland that could provide a positive influence for Lewis and help him avoid potential problems in DC, so she requested that Lewis be released to house arrest with his uncle.
Sawney also said the defense believes there is a strong case for self-defense as the accident occurred after an altercation between Lewis and a group of unknown individuals.
However, the prosecution opposed the argument because Clemons was not part of the group of unknown individuals involved in the conflict.
Both counsel and Judge Okun then had a private conversation at the bench, which resulted in Judge Okun’s recommendation that Lewis be placed in the Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF) of the DC Jail.
The next status hearing is scheduled for May 12.
DC Superior Court Judge Brandt granted a motion to continue a murder trial to August 2024.
William Davenport, 30, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 27-year-old Leonard Turner on May 14, 2021, on the 1700 block of Trinidad Avenue, NE.
Jacqueline Cadman, Davenport’s defense attorney, filed a motion to continue the trial based on reasonings explained in a private discussion with the judge. The prosecution had no opposition to the continuance.
Cadman also filed a motion to modify release conditions, including getting rid of Davenport’s curfew and changing drug testing frequency for her client.
The defendant must now continue to wear a GPS monitoring device and check in with pretrial services (PSA) once a week. Davenport will also have to report for random drug testing and no longer has a curfew.
The next status hearing is scheduled for May 12.
During a Feb. 24 status hearing in the case of a sexual abuse, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt stated that she expects a “short trial.”
The sexual abuse incident occurred on May 22, 2021, near Rea Rose Plaza on the 2900 block of Adams Mill Road, NW. According to court documents, the victim was walking through a nearby trail when the defendant ran up behind her, attacked her, and sexually assaulted her.
The 34-year-old defendant, who appeared via WebEx for the hearing, is charged with third-degree sexual abuse through force and kidnapping.
Defense attorney Rachel Cicurel, who also appeared via WebEx, and the prosecutor, who was present in the courtroom, agreed on a Nov. 13 trial date. The trial is expected to last for three days.
Judge Brandt acknowledged that there is no indication that the defendant is “anything but compliant” with his pretrial regulations in accordance with the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).
A status hearing was scheduled for Aug. 17.
During a trial readiness hearing on Feb. 24, DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo granted the defense’s request for another hearing shortly before trial to confirm that the subpoenaed witnesses would appear.
A defendant, 33, is charged with first-degree sexual abuse under aggravating circumstances while armed, a civil protection order violation, attempted first-degree sexual abuse under aggravating circumstances while armed, kidnapping while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly kidnapping and raping an unknown victim on April 18 and 19, 2022, on the 500 block of Atlantic Street, SE.
During the hearing, defense attorney Donna Beasley requested to have one more hearing before the start of trial because the witnesses she subpoenaed have previously failed to show. Judge Demeo granted the request for a hearing a week from Friday.
Judge Demeo also mentioned that she had sent counsel questions for which she expects to use during the jury selection process. The prosecution had a few changes and they were addressed to the court.
The prosecution added three questions, including whether or not the juror or a family member had training in the medical field regarding medicine, if a family member had medical training or knowledge in the area of asphyxiation, and if a witness having immunity would make their testimony difficult for a juror to believe.
Judge Demeo accepted the first two questions, and denied the third one, saying it would be inappropriate to ask.
The prosecution plans to also have two expert witnesses on March 8 and the defense will call two witnesses during the trial.
The parties are scheduled to return for a trial readiness hearing on March 3.
