Co-Defendants in Murder Case Waive Rights to DNA Testing

During a status hearing on Feb. 10, co-defendants waived their rights to have DNA testing in murder case.

Chakeatia Jackson, 38, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and Jaquell Jackson, 19, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly murdering Tarshaqua Chappell, 37, on Sept. 15, 2021, on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE. Jackson is Jaquell’s mother.

Defense attorneys Errin Scialpi and Brian McDaniel said their defendants wished to waive their rights to DNA testing.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan confirmed with both defendants that they understood their rights to have independent DNA testing performed, before accepting the waiver.

Jackson is currently released with GPS monitoring, while Jaquell is being held at the DC Jail.

McDaniel requested that Jaquell be released from custody and into home confinement with GPS monitoring.

Judge Raffinan denied Jaquell’s release.

The parties are scheduled to return Sept. 13 for a status hearing.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Murder

During a status hearing on Feb. 10, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan accepted a guilty plea in from a defendant accused of murder.

Wesley Scott, 22, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, and destruction of property worth $1,000 or more for murdering David Young, 28, and shooting another on April 3, 2020, on the 3500 block of 22nd Street, SE.

Scott pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Judge Raffinan confirmed that Scott understood his rights to DNA testing and trial, and accepted the plea offer.

The parties are scheduled to return for a sentencing hearing on July 14, 2023.

Defendant Convicted of Triple Homicide Gets Sentenced to 125 Years in Prison

In the sentencing of convicted triple homicide defendant Rakeem Willis, DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan sentenced him to 125 years in prison.

Willis, 38, was convicted of killing 26-year-old Javon Abney, 26-year-old Sean Shuler, and 24-year-old Tyrik Hagood on Jan. 26, 2020, on the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place, SE. Each count of first-degree murder while armed carried a 40-year sentence, totaling 120 consecutive years incarcerated. An additional 5 years were added for the guilty charge of fleeing a law enforcement officer.

During the Feb. 10 hearing, Judge Ryan explained that Willis “ambushed and murdered three young men” with no motive or explanation for the killings ever found.

Multiple victim impact statements were read by relatives of the victims. The prosecutor also read statements on behalf of those who were not in the courtroom. Multiple statements pleaded with the judge to sentence Willis to the maximum possible sentence.

After the victim impact statements, Willis’ defense attorney Howard McEachern recommended that the court consider the sentencing on the not-guilty charges established in the verdict as well. Additionally, McEachern explained the importance of rehabilitation in guiding the sentencing.

Willis was given a chance to speak regarding his sentencing, but he declined.

Prior to reading out the sentence, Judge Ryan spoke about the defendant’s upbringing and criminal history, stating that the defendant had previous crimes of violence, such as assault with intent to kill in 2014.

In addition to the 125-year sentence, Willis also has to register as a gun offender and pay $100 to the victims of violent crimes fund per each guilty charge, totaling $400.

Document: Homicide on Minnisota Ave

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) os investigating a homicide tat occurred on Feb. 10.

According to a press release, 42-year-old Thomas Goodman was found suffering from apparent gunshot wounds on the 1700 block of Minnesota Avenue SE. He died at the scene.

Victim in a Sexual Assault Case Takes the Stand

During a Feb. 8 non-jury trial for a domestic violence case, DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer M. Anderson denied the defense’s motion to dismiss their case.

The incident occurred on Aug. 13, 2018, in an apartment on the 5000 block of Washington Avenue, SW. The defendant allegedly assaulted the victim after they argued about his infidelity. He is being charged with first-degree sexual abuse and simple assault.

Judge Anderson resumed the trial Wednesday with her ruling on the defense’s motion to dismiss. Judge Anderson said that while she agreed with the defense’s argument against the conscientiousness of the case, she did not find there to be gross negligence nor a sufficient violation of the prosecution providing evidence to the defense

Body camera footage that contained the victim’s initial testimony was cleared from the police’s database six months after the initial upload. The defense said on Feb. 7, the first day of trial, that the prosecution’s failure to preserve this crucial evidence is in fact a violation.

Judge Anderson refuted this claim and ruled that the notes collected from the detective on the case was sufficient to carry on the case.

After this ruling, defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman moved to enact four separate regulations, including:

The victim’s demeanor from the day of the incident are excluded from questioning because the defense cannot confront the witness without her initial testimony.
To not allow the detective to discuss the demeanor of the victim from the day of the incident.
To start with the assumption that the victim is not credible.
To assume there is missing evidence.

Judge Anderson listened to each party’s arguments and approved these sanctions for the trial.

On Wednesday, the victim gave her account of the events leading up to Aug. 13, 2018, and the alleged rape.

To conclude her questioning for the day, Cadman said the reality of the situation was that the victim hadn’t seen the defendant for two weeks and missed him.

The defense said the victim suspected that he’d been with someone else while he was away and when she saw him that morning, she had voluntarily gone into his bedroom and was intimate with him to secure their relationship.

Cadman then argued that the victim classified their intimacy that day as non consensual after she found the text messages from another woman because she wanted to punish the defendant for his infidelity.

During the hearing, the victim interrupted Cadman and told her she was wrong. She said she wouldn’t have slept with the defendant because she was upset with him, and the sex that was forced upon her was not by her own omission.

According to court documents, the victim allegedly confronted her boyfriend when she’d found texts from another woman on his phone. Additionally, she discovered that he’d changed her contact name to “Mom,” to conceal her identity when out on dates.

After the victim and the defendant settled their argument and returned home, the defendant allegedly grabbed the victim, picked her up and took her to his bedroom. There he told her he “wanted her.”

According to the victim’s testimony, the victim said she struggled against the defendant and told him to stop. Even so, the defendant continued to make forced sexual advancements.

The victim said she suffered from a panic attack and it was triggered by the defendant’s aggression. She said she hyperventilated for moments before making her way to the bathroom and vomiting.

The defendant took the victim to Providence Hospital to seek care, according to court documents. It was there that the victim confided in a nurse to “get [him] away.”

The attending nurse called the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and reported the interaction. Officers arrived on scene with the understanding that there was an incident of domestic violence.

Judge Anderson continued the trial to Feb. 9 when the victim will take the stand.

Hearing Abruptly Ends Due to Unprofessional Behavior

D.C. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt left the courtroom as both parties continued to argue during a hearing on Feb. 9 for a double homicide case.

Alphonso Walker, 45, is being charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to the death of Dalonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, near the 400 block of 61 Street, NE on April 25, 2018. Walker has been held awaiting trial since December of 2018.

At the request of Judge Brandt, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer came in for questioning in regard to missing notes from the night of the incident. Due to the longevity of this case, not much information was provided about the notes or the events that occurred that day.

There were also questions about the officer’s body-worn camera and the footage from the night of the incident.

Footage was deleted due to inaccurate categorization, and the officer did have interactions with witnesses.

The missing notes and footage caused concern for Walker’s right to access material evidence.

Defense attorneys Prescott Loveland and Kevann Gardner previously filed a motion to dismiss the case due to implications that the missing evidence hindered Walker’s ability to have a fair trial.

After the officer was excused from the courtroom, Loveland and the prosecution continued arguing over the proposed motion to dismiss. The arguments between the attorneys began to escalate to an unprofessional level. Behavior Judge Brandt has warned all parties to stop in previous hearings.

“You’re all grown attorneys-this look is not cute,” Judge Brandt told counsel. She then left the courtroom, ending the hearing.

Judge Brandt is slated to rule on the motion to dismiss in the next hearing, which is scheduled for Feb. 13.

Judge Orders Forensic Screening in Child Sex Abuse Case

In a status hearing on Feb. 9, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan heard and accepted a motion for forensic testing in a child sex abuse case.

The 31-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree child sex abuse. On Feb. 27, 2022, the defendant arrived at his girlfriend’s residence on the 900 block of Kennedy Street, NW, where he allegedly began to inappropriately touch his 10-year-old niece after his girlfriend fell asleep. According to court documents, he took the victim into another room where he allegedly proceeded to sexually assault her.

At the hearing, council spoke with Judge Raffinan in privacy about the details of the motion for roughly 15 minutes. She then agreed to order forensic screening to determine the defendant’s competency.

Judge Raffinan scheduled to next hearing for after the report is completed.

A mental observational hearing is slated for Feb. 15.

Judge Sets Trial Date After Defendant Rejects Plea Deal in Homicide Case

At a status hearing on Feb. 9, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan set a trial date for a homicide case after the defendant rejected a plea deal.

Antoine Turner is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shootings of Demeitri Anderson and Demetrius Benson. On Nov. 3, 2020, Turner, 29, allegedly shot Benson, 34, on the 4500 block of Dix Street, NE. Then, on Nov. 29, 2020, Turner allegedly shot Anderson, 23, 13 times, killing him on the 4500 block of Benning Road, SE.

After the prosecution offered a plea deal of second-degree murder while armed and a 16-year sentence, Turner’s defense attorney, Matthew Davies, reported that the defendant intended to reject the offer.

The family of the victim was overheard in the courtroom expressing frustration about the plea deal. The deal would only require a 16 year sentence, which is substantially shorter than the DC code mandated 30-year minimum sentence for first-degree murder.

Judge Raffinan set the trial to begin on Oct. 21, 2024, which is expected to last for about three weeks.

The next status hearing is slated for April 12.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Sex Abuse

A defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree sex abuse and waived his right to an indictment at a felony status hearing on Feb. 9.

Alexander Hernandez, 42, is charged with second-degree sex abuse on April 1, 2022, for having sexual acts with a victim who was unconscious while under the influence of illegal drugs. This crime occurred on the 3300 block of 19th Street, NW.

Defense attorney Damon L. Catacalos requested his client’s release from jail. He also mentioned that his client is expecting a child and, if released, he would be able to attend the birth.

Catacalos said the defendant agreed to wear a GPS monitor to keep track of his location.

However, the prosecution opposed the request for release from jail, citing the defendant’s repeated absences from court on Jan. 17 and May 5, 2022.

The prosecutor said she would agree to a temporary release, so the defendant could witness the birth of his child.

Judge Robert Okun concurred with the prosecution, requesting Catacalos determine the date of the child’s birth and submit the necessary documentation to the corrections department to obtain a furlow release.

The next court date was scheduled for April 21.

Judge Advocates for Defendant in Murder Case

D.C. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt advocated for a defendant’s right to discuss a plea deal with his attorneys during a Feb. 9 hearing in a murder case.

Micheal Dolson, 37, is being charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the murder of Kenneth Thomas Jr., 42, at the Cloud Lounge, located on the 1900 block of 9th Street, NW

on March 14, 2022.

Defense attorney Anthony Matthews previously filed a motion to dismiss the case due to the prosecution failing to file an indictment before the 9 month deadline. The prosecution requested and was granted an extended time before the motion was filed.

Matthews argued that the main issue now is Dolson’s potential release. Dolson is currently serving a sentence that is slated to end in April for a case Judge Brandt also presided over.

Judge Brandt said release is not possible at this time and that if Matthews wanted to argue for his client’s release, he would have to at a future hearing.

Matthews and the prosecutor expressed that plea negotiations had been discussed, but the prosecution was under the assumption that the defense rejected the offer.

However, Judge Brandt talked to Dolson directly, and he expressed he did not have enough time to talk to Matthews about the offer.

“Mr. Dolson emits a quiet strength,” Judge Brandt said. ”If he’s telling me he needs more time, I know that from experience to be true.”

The prosecution said a discussion needs to happen with the family before the plea offer deadline can be extended.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 24.

Female Defendant Held in Jail After Shooting Partner

A judge held one homicide defendant charged with second-degree murder while armed during presentment hearings on Feb. 8.

Twenty-five defendants were brought before DC Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond.

Latasha Gray, 35, is being charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Anthony Thomas, 40, on Feb. 6 on the 4200 block of 7th Street SE.

On the evening of the incident, Gray and Thomas were allegedly engaged in an argument.

The defendant allegedly found the gun in a drawer at which point she said it accidentally discharged, hitting Thomas. Thomas was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead on Feb. 7.

Defense attorney Joseph Yarbough argued there was no probable cause for a second-degree murder, stating the incident was an accident. Yarbough spoke to the defendant’s good character and her commitment to her children.

However, Judge Raymond found substantial probability for the second-degree murder and denied the defendant’s request for release.

Gray is being held without bail and given a stay-away order. She is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 21.

In another felony case, Judge Lloyd Nolan Jr. decided to release Jovon Jackson on Feb. 7.

Jackson, 26, who is charged with second-degree sex abuse on April 30, 2021, on the 2600 block of Birney Place SE.

The accuser said that the defendant forced himself on her while she was asleep and intoxicated. She said she told the defendant to get off of her, but he allegedly replied “I thought you wanted it.”

Jackson was released under the high intensity supervision program (HISP) and instructed to return to court on March 23.

Judge Raymond confirmed Feb. 8 that Jackson reported for GPS installation and orientation as ordered.

Two domestic violence defendants were also released.

One defendant was charged with simple assault and attempted threats to do bodily harm, while the other was charged with attempted second-degree cruelty to children and simple assault.

Both defendants were given stay-away orders and are scheduled to return to court in March.

Document: Traffic Fatality in Northeast

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a traffic fatality that occurred on Feb. 8, on the 600 block of Rhode Island Avenue, NE.

According to the preliminary investigation, a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser was moving westbound in the 600 block of Rhode Island Avenue, Northeast, at about 5:54 p.m. At that moment, a pedestrian crossed the street in the center of the block between driving vehicles and the work zone. The 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser struck the pedestrian as they crossed into the westbound travel lane.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The decedent has been identified as 66-year-old James Timothy Tarrants.

Witness Questioning Persists for Third Day in a Row in Sex Abuse Trial

During a Feb. 8 non-jury trial, counsel resumed witness questioning in a domestic violence case.

The defendant is being charged with first-degree sexual abuse and simple assault. The alleged incident occurred on Aug. 13, 2018, in an apartment on the 5000 block of Washington Avenue, SW. The argument ensued after the victim found texts from another woman on the defendant’s phone, which resulted in an alleged nonconsensual sexual altercation between the two.

DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer M. Anderson began the third day with counsel questioning the victim. Defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman continued her attempt to invalidate the complainant’s claims of assault by inquiring into her various testimonies given throughout the four year duration of the case.

The complainant relied heavily on the argument that she “did not recall” the specificities of her testimonies. Many of her answers to the defense’s questions regarding the detail of what occurred on Aug. 13, 2018, was “I don’t recall.” She attributed any inconsistencies to the sheer amount of time that has elapsed since the assault.

After questioning the accuser, the prosecution called a detective on the case in 2018. At the time, he was a veteran on the force with a 30 year rapport with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

The witness recounted his introduction to the case on the day of the incident and the several interviews he conducted with the complainant and defendant.

The defense played various audial testimonies collected from these interviews and continued to poke holes in the accuser’s account of the incident.

For example, the complainant said that the defendant choked her, but according to court documents she told the detective and medical personnel on the case that no physical assault occurred. Finally, evidence of choking failed to appear during the accuser’s medical examination.

The prosecution redirected the witness and argued that the defendant is likely to have assaulted the complainant because of his own variability in whether or not he and the accuser had sex that day. According to court documents, it was only after the defendant was asked for a DNA swab that he admitted to having sex with the victim on Aug. 13, 2018.

The final witness was the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) who was responsible for conducting the complainant’s Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE). The court accepted this witness as an expert witness.

When conducting the SAFE exam in 2018, the witness documented every observation made regarding the complainant’s physical state. The witness said that she observed blunt trauma to the complainant’s vaginal walls, but no marks or bruising to the complainant’s extremities.

The defense asked the witness in cross examination if the trauma found in the vagina is consistent with nonconsensual sex? She said that there is no definitive way to tell if the sex is consensual or not based on these vaginal marks.

To conclude the day’s trial, the defense once again requested the defendant be acquitted on both charges.

Judge Anderson denied the defense’s motion and scheduled the next hearing for Feb. 13 at 2:30 p.m.

Sexual Assault Defendant Awaits The Decision Of His Case

On Feb. 7 a judge decided to continue a non-jury trial despite counsel’s requests to dismiss a sexual assault case.

On Aug. 13, 2018, the defendant allegedly sexually assaulted the victim in his apartment on the 5000 block of Washington Avenue, SW.

The request for dismissal includes deleted body-worn camera footage of the initial investigation.

During the trial on Feb. 7, the prosecution called a former Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer, a retired MPD officer, and a retired sexual assault MPD detective as their witnesses, all of whom participated in the case on Aug. 13, 2018.

A MPD sexual assault detective was called by officers following their initial conversation with the victim. On a recording, the detective is seen asking the victim if she wanted to file a sexual assault complaint, however, she responded that she was tired and just wanted to go home.

During their interview, the detective asked twice if the victim had been sexually assaulted. She said no to both inquiries.

After leaving the hospital two of the officers failed to title their body-worn camera footage, according to the order.

On Aug 14, 2018, the day after the victim left the hospital, she called the detective and asked to file a sexual assault complaint. According to witness testimony, the case was then updated from a sexual assault allegation to first-degree sexual assault.

According to court documents, the footage was deleted on Feb. 16 and 17 2019, which is more than 90 days after the incident happened.

As a result of the missing footage, defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman asked for the case to be dismissed. She was able to question the credibility of the prosecution’s evidence, which was a summary of officers’ body-worn camera footage written by a detective. She stated that the victim’s tone and demeanor on camera while she was in the hospital are crucial to this case.

She also stated that due to the MPD sexual assault department and the prosecutor’s failure to retrieve the body-worn camera footage when the complaint was filed, the defendant’s due process right to a fair jury trial was violated. The only evidence he has is not available, which Camdan said was bad faith and gross negligence.

The prosecution claimed that neither bad faith nor gross negligence are valid. The prosecution also added that the defendant’s due process rights were not violated and that there is a medical record and more witnesses who can testify.

Camdan previously filed a motion to exclude the defendant’s testimony at the hospital from evidence because it was a violation of the defendant’s Marinda rights.

But, the prosecution said the testimony wouldn’t be used as evidence.

The defense also filed a motion to suppress part of a nurse’ testimony, stating that she will be only explaining why she does her job. The prosecution agreed. However, both motions were later withdrawn.

According to court documents, the defendant and the victim got into an argument prior to the incident as a result of cheating allegations.While waiting for their vehicle in a local auto body shop, the victim looked through the defendant’s phone. The victim claimed he was cheating because she found that the defendant had her number saved as “mom” in his phone.

After they arrived at the defendant’s apartment their argument continued.The victim stated that she informed the defendant that she was having an asthma attack however, he did not believe her, picked her up, threw her on the bed, and started to kiss her chest. Then, she asked him to stop, but he did not.

While crying and screaming, the victim allegedly asked the defendant if he was going to rape her and he responded it was not rape. Then the defendant forced his penis inside her vagina while he was choking her which led to her vomit, according to court documents. The defendant then took the victim to the hospital for her asthma attack, which is when the police were contacted by hospital staff.

The defendant’s wife, mother, mother in law, sister, brother and brother in law were all there to support him.

DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Anderson asked for the trial to continue, allowing the prosecution to call their witness to testify.

The non-jury trial is scheduled to resume on Feb 8.

Defense Requests a Continuance After Privately Discussing Proposed Peal Deal

Over two years after her arrest, a murder defendant appeared in front of D.C. Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo to discuss a proposed plea deal.

Nijinsky Dix, a 38-year-old former professor at the University of Notre Dame, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for her alleged connection to the shooting of Terry Hickman.

Dix’s defense attorney, Brandi Harden, and the prosecution prepared a plea deal for Dix’s status hearing on Feb. 8, but after a private conversation with Judge Demeo, Harden requested a continuance.

The shooting occurred on Nov. 14, 2020, on the 1000 block of 4th Street, NW. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a 911 call regarding gunshot sounds coming from inside an apartment building.

According to court documents, when the officers arrived on the scene they found Hickman lying face down, with multiple gunshot wounds. Dix was kneeling next to him with the murder weapon in hand. She was arrested at the scene.

During her interview with MPD detectives, Dix repeatedly told the officers she struggled with memory problems and asked them for information that would help remind her of the incident.

When the detectives showed her a photo of Hickman in an attempt to help her remember, she began crying, saying “Get it away from me.”

Dix has rejected previous plea deals, and it is unknown, at this time, why Harden decided to request a continuance after her conversation with Judge Demeo.

All parties are scheduled to return to court to continue discussing the plea deal on Feb. 13.

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