Metropolitan Police Department detectives made an arrest in a homicide that occurred on Feb. 4, on the 1100 block of 21st Place, NE.
According to a press release, at about 5:04 am, officers located 32-year-old Gregory Wilkins inside of an apartment suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Feb. 4, 27-year-old Diamond Stevenson was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed. The detectives revealed the offense was domestic in nature.
In the Feb. 3 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Robert D. Okun held a status hearing, however the defendant was not in attendance.
The 60-year-old defendant allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a child under the age of 18 on the block of 1400 Morris Road, SE in August 2021. He is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, kidnapping against a minor, first-degree child sex abuse where the victim was under age 18 and the actor had significant relationship with victim,second-degree child abuse where the victim was under age 18 and the actor had significant relationship with victim.
Judge Okun said defendant will be in a medical procedure later this month and won’t be available to attend his trial on Feb. 21.
The defendant was released under the s High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).
A pretrial services representative reports that the defendant has been in compliance with release conditions, sayinghere has been no notice of any arrest or warrants since his release. In addition, the defendant has tested negative for a drug use.
The jury trial for Feb. 21 was vacated. A status hearing is scheduled for March 29. All parties have agreed that the defendant can attend the hearing remotely.
During a preliminary hearing on Feb. 6, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan found probable cause and held a defendant in a 2022 homicide case.
Jerome Israel is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting ChaQuan Barbett on Aug. 23, 2022, on the 2300 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE.
The prosecution offered a plea deal for two cases Israel, 19, is currently being tried for, including Barbett’s murder and a carjacking case. The plea deal would have lowered Israel’s charges for both cases to two counts of unarmed carjacking, aggravated assault, and second-degree murder resulting in a minimum sentence of 25 years. Despite his family urging him to take the deal from the audience, Israel rejected the offer.
Israel’s defense attorney, Janai Reed, questioned the lead detective on the case about the surveillance footage of the incident and eye-witness interviews. The detective said the complexion, hairstyle, or particular clothing details of the suspect could not be determined by the surveillance footage. Reed also pointed out that the eyewitnesses’ interviews had different descriptions of the suspect.
The eyewitness that identified Israel as the suspect was parked near the scene of the crime when the alleged shooting occurred.
The prosecution said that while the witness’s description was vague, Israel matched it and was later identified as the suspect when the witness was shown a photo of him.
Seven days after the alleged shooting, Israel was arrested for an armed carjacking incident in which a stolen car crashed and Israel allegedly fled the scene, according to court documents.
From the crash, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers recovered a firearm and an open container of juice. Both items were tested for DNA as well as the deployed airbag of the car from the crash. Israel’s DNA was found on all three items.
The firearm recovered from the car crash also linked Israel to Barbett’s murder through evidence recovered at the scene of the shooting.
The defense said there were no grounds to find probable cause as testing of evidence showed signs of other individuals’ DNA. The defense also questioned Barbett’s identification as the suspect because the witness who identified him had previously been arrested for intent to distribute and sell cocaine. The witness’ connection to the incident is unclear.
However, after arguments from the prosecution and defense, Judge Raffinan said the surveillance footage, ballistics evidence, and witness testimonies sufficient enough to find probable cause.
Reed requested that Israel be released under certain conditions due to his lack of a violent history and drug use.
However, the defense’s request for Israel’s release under the high-intensity supervision program (HISP) with house arrest and a curfew was rejected.
Judge Raffinan agreed with the prosecution that the defendant was a danger to society due to approximately seven previous carjacking incidents.
All parties are scheduled to return for a status hearing on April 27.
The jury selection for six of nine co-defendants charged in the murder of a 10-year-old girl is scheduled to continue on Feb. 7.
Qujuan Thomas, 24, Quentin Michals, 25, Marquell Cobbs, 20, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah Murchison, 22, and Gregory Taylor, 26, are charged with first-degree murder, criminal street gang affiliation and other charges in connection to the fatal drive-by shooting that killed 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson on July 16, 2018, on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE.
During Monday’s jury selection, 75 potential jurors attended to be interviewed by DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.
The prosecution read out over 100 names of witnesses that will be testifying in this case.
The defense expects to call up to 16 of those witness.
During a Feb. 3 status hearing, defense attorneys for multiple co-defendants charged in a conspiracy case argued that the separation order the prosecution imposed has been a “logistical nightmare for the jail.”
Co-defendants Nkobia Edwards, 20, Charles Hill Jr, 22, Dominique Franks, 22, Melvin Morris, 24, Michael Mason, 19, Dajuan Jones, 23, and Alvin Jackson, 28, are incarcerated for their alleged conspiracies and involvement in a non-fatal construction site shooting.
The shooting occurred on the 3300 block of 34th Street, NW on June 17, 2021. According to court documents, a car pulled up to the construction site and three gunmen exited the vehicle to open fire on the site before hopping back into a stolen vehicle and fleeing the scene. A vehicle pursuit lasted approximately 30 minutes before Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers captured the car and its four occupants.
Additionally, Mason and Jones are also facing additional charges for their involvement in the murder of 21-year-old Brea Moon, which occurred on the 3900 block of Alabama Avenue, SE on April 7, 2020.
Jones and Jackson are also allegedly charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for a shooting that occurred on the 5000 block H Street, SE on May 2, 2020.
Apart from the other co-defendants, Mason is allegedly charged with the murder of 18-year-old Antwuan Roach, which occurred on the 3800 block of East Capitol Street, NE on May 22, 2020.
Both murders were believed to be gang-related incidents, according to court documents.
Due to a prosecution separation order, all co-defendants have been separated in the DC jail for over 16 months.
The prosecution listed the reasoning behind the separation as crew-related issues and misconduct by the defendants, noting that they accessed cell phones and social media while in jail. DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein questioned the purpose of the separation when it comes to addressing the issues behind it.
Attorneys Howard McEachern and Gemma Stevens representing Edwards, attorney Shawn Sukumar representing Hill, attorneys Megan Allbrun and Julie Swaney representing Morris, attorney David Knight and Prescott Loveland representing Jones, attorney Euphus Belu-John representing Jackson, and Ain Andrew all joined to request the separation order to be waived.
The defense claimed that their clients’ access to education is paused since the separation order prevents them from being in the DC Jail’s communal classroom. They also argued that the defendants’ safety is in jeopardy due to their placement among members of an alleged rival group.
Judge Epstein said he needed time to discuss the issue with DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee before deciding on the separation waiver request.
During the Friday status hearing, the prosecution also informed the court of standing plea offers, stating that one of the defendants, who was not present in court, pleaded guilty. The prosecution is still waiting on others to respond.
On behalf of Mason, attorney Andrew rejected the plea offer, while the others asked for more time.
Even though the offers are wired, Mason’s rejection of his plea offer did not affect the others because he holds an additional murder charge not listed in DC Courts, besides the murders of Moon and Roach, said prosecution.
Frank, Hill, and Jackson, along with others, had their families present in the courtroom for support.
For the ease of future hearings, Judge Epstein split the defendants into three groups, with some overlapping into multiple.
Status hearings for the groups are scheduled for March 17.
During a motions hearing on Feb. 6, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt oversaw two witness testimonies which could impact whether or not they will be used at trial.
Alphonso Walker, 45, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed under aggravating circumstances, six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts attempt to commit robbery while armed, and two counts of first-degree murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit a robbery for allegedly murdering Dalonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, on April 25, 2018, on the 400 block of 61st Street, NE.
During the Feb. 6 motions hearing, the parties finished listening to two separate expert witnesses who discussed the idea of what language to use during trial in a way the jury would understand.
The next motions hearing is scheduled for Feb. 8.
Johnwann Elliot was officially arraigned on Feb. 6 during a felony arraignment court hearing.
On March 15, 2022, Elliot, 29, allegedly shot Nikia Young. Young, 37, was seen on surveillance footage walking through the 2200 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE when she encountered the defendant who shot her seven times to the body and face.
Defense attorneys Kevin O’Sullivan and Roderick Thompson are representing Elliot. O’Sullivan entered a not guilty plea for first-degree murder while armed during release, unlawful possession of a firearm during release, two counts of possession of a firearm during a violent offense during release, and carrying a pistol without a license.
Defense counsel also invoked Elliot’s right to a speedy trial for the homicide case.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers collected several witness testimonies from the scene that afternoon, including statements from the victim’s family and friends, according to court documents. When questioning the friends and family of the victim, officers inquired into possible motives, including a rumor that the victim allegedly stole a firearm from the defendant.
Even though Elliot is associated with a local address, he was arrested by members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) in a hotel room on May 19, 2022.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffian set a status hearing for June 6.
During a Feb. 6 status hearing, the prosecutor confirmed that a pre-indictment plea offer given to a sexual abuse defendant was rejected on the record.
A 48-year-old physician assistant is charged with second-degree sexual abuse of a patient or a client. The incident allegedly occurred at Metro Lab, a full-service testing facility on the 3400 block of Georgia Avenue, NW, where he was formerly employed.
Defense attorney Rachel McCoy affirmed that the defendant initially rejected the prosecution’s plea offer on Oct. 28, 2022.
DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein scheduled the next hearing following the 9 month indictment deadline.
A felony status hearing is scheduled for June 7.
During a presentment hearing on Feb. 3, DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe held a defendant in relation to a non-fatal shooting.
The defendant, Larry Tunstall, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license for his alleged connection to a shooting on Aug. 27, 2022.
Tunstall, 23, allegedly struck an off-duty FBI agent’s vehicle while driving on the DC295 highway. When the agent attempted to flag the defendant down, Tunstall allegedly shot at his vehicle while passing Benning Road.
Tunstall’s defense attorney, Chantal Jean-Baptiste, requested that the judge not find probable cause due to the fact that Tunstall did not fit the description given by the agent. The defense also claimed that there was not enough information to identify Tunstall as a suspect.
However, the prosecution argued that there was enough evidence to find probable cause as the vehicle used by the suspect was traced back to Tunstall’s home and someone who lives with him reported that he was driving the day of the incident. The prosecution also said that there was probable cause for carrying a pistol without a license as the possible pistol was found in Tunstall’s home.
The preliminary hearing is slated for Feb. 6 was waived, and a felony indictment is pending.
Tunstall continues to be held without bond at the DC Jail.
The next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 16.
After nearly two months following the guilty verdicts of co-defendants James Mayfield and Robert A. Moses, the court reconvened at a status hearing on Feb. 3 to put forward a motion, suggesting juror misconduct.
After the jury delivered the verdict on Dec. 8, 2022, two witnesses came forward claiming that Moses went to high school with one of the trial jurors.
Mayfield, 23, and Moses, 24, were convicted of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with intent to kill with an aggravating circumstance of the victim being vulnerable because of mental or physical infirmity, and aggravated assault while armed for killing 17-year-old Jamahri Sydnor on Aug. 12, 2017.
The co-defendants are currently awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for June 9.
In the hearing, Mayfield’s defense attorney, Veronice A. Holt explained to DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan that Mayfield had told her he needed to tell her something just moments before the verdict was delivered. Holt said she was not made aware of the information about the potential juror misconduct until after the verdict was read.
Moses’ defense attorney, Steven R. Kiersh also added that he was informed of the potential juror misconduct after the verdict was delivered.
He explained to the court that a witness said they went to high school with both Moses and the juror. Additionally, a second witness came forward, after sitting in the audience of the trial, and said they went to the same high school as Moses and the juror.
Judge Raffinan questioned both the prosecution and defense regarding how exactly this information came out. Kiersh said he found out through a “secondary source” and has had no direct contact with the witnesses.
Both the defense and prosecution have multiple unanswered questions regarding the validity of these claims.
The juror in question was present in the courthouse, however, Mayfield’s defense attorney and the prosecution requested to wait until the evidentiary hearing to examine the witness in order to gain a better foundation of the facts.
Kiersh opposed both Holt and the prosecution, stating that it was necessary to ask the preliminary questions to get a baseline understanding for their next hearing.
Judge Raffinan agreed with the prosecution and Holt and scheduled two evidentiary hearings to examine the two witnesses and the juror in question.
The first evidentiary hearing is scheduled for April 7 for the defense to examine the witnesses. The following evidentiary hearing is scheduled for April 24 to examine the juror.
A homicide defendant’s trial was pushed back to over a year later in a status hearing on Feb. 3.
Kenneth Stewart, 61, is charged with the first-degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly shooting 54-year-old Courtney Jones. The incident occurred in July of 2020 on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
Defense attorney Dominique Winters stated, at the beginning of the hearing, that she had recently done research on prior cases, which led her to raise concerns about possible issues with the Grand Jury.
This research led her to request a delay in the trial, initially set to happen Feb. 21, to further litigate in regards to the issues.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Marissa Demeo stressed to the defendant that this would cause significant delays, and he would be detained in prison all the while these challenges are being investigated.
“I don’t think anyone knows how long this could take,” said Judge Demeo.
Winters assured the judge her client was aware of what this means for him.
The original trial date was vacated.
The prosecution, defense, and judge were all unavailable until 2024, so the next trial date was set for July 9, 2024.
The next hearing is set for Feb. 13.
A trial readiness hearing was held for an upcoming homicide trial to discuss deadlines and witnesses.
Nelson Davis, 19, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence offenses committed during release for allegedly shooting Jason Ford on the 1700 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE on Aug. 15, 2022.
In a Feb. 3 trial readiness hearing, both the defense and the prosecution discussed matters for an upcoming jury trial, including…..
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt began setting preliminary trial readiness deadlines for motions and expert notices.
The prosecution expects the trial to last four to five days, expecting one expert witness and 8-10 other witnesses to testify.
The defense also expects one expert witness and 3-4 other witnesses to take the stand.
Both parties are scheduled to come back on March 31 for a status hearing. The motion due date is set for May 5 as well as the expert notice due date.
A motions hearing date is set for June 23.
A victim’s family and friends spoke out against a plea deal in a homicide case during a trial readiness hearing on Feb. 3.
Collin Potter, 30, is charged with the second-degree murder of 36-year-old Vongell Lugo. Potter, a former Navy Corpsman, stabbed Lugo to death on Jan. 6, 2019, on the 2800 block of Wisconsin Avenue, NW.
The court offered Potter a plea deal, which would drop all additional charges other than second-degree murder. This includes kidnapping and first-degree sexual abuse. By accepting this deal, Potter would spend 14-16 years in prison.
Potter accepted this offer.
Lugo’s lifelong friend, behalf of the family, said the victim’s family believes the range of time Potter received in prison does not match the crime, and that he is a danger to society.
“Vongell was a friend, son, brother, uncle, and he will not live the rest of his life,” said Lugo’s friend.
The family wants Potter to receive the maximum sentence, which is up to 40 years in prison, the friend said.
Lugo’s friends and family also believe that the court is overlooking vital information that would lead to a first-degree murder charge.
“Nothing could have provoked that type of reaction,” said another one of Lugo’s friends.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo accepted the plea for today, but noted her final decision would be made at the next hearing. She assured the victim’s friends and family that she would take their statements into account.
The next hearing is set for April 14.
Scheduling conflicts with the defense in a sex abuse case pushed the initial trial date back more than a year.
The defendant, 42, is charged with six counts of first-degree sexual abuse where the defendant has been found guilty of committing sex offenses against two or more victims. He allegedly broke into a home and sexually assaulted an 11-year-old child in October of 2011 on the 3000 block of Stanton Road, SE. The defendant is also charged in another case involving the allege sexual assault of a 10-year-old child in September 2011 in an Oxon Hill residence in Maryland.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo asked the prosecution about DNA updates.
The prosecution stated that the DNA has not moved forward due to outside issues, but it would not cause delays in the trial date.
However, the defense had a scheduling conflict with another trial, so the defendant’s trial needed to be moved regardless.
The initial trial date of Feb. 8 was vacated. The trial was ultimately moved to Oct. 28, 2024.
The next hearing is set for July 14.
Both the defense and prosecution met to provide their updates on each side of the case for an impending homicide trial.
Delonte Jackson, 23, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the murder of 44-year-old Artavarn Wagner on March 3, 2022, on the 1700 block of Gales Street, NE. Jackson allegedly stole the victim’s car after shooting him. Jackson’s DNA was found on the car’s steering wheel, according to court documents.
During the hearing on Feb. 3, the prosecution and defense set a date for an upcoming status hearing on this case.
The prosecutor is seeking an indictment and asked for another hearing in April.
The defense had no objection.
“This is a case where plea negotiations are continuing,” said defense attorney Megan Allburn.
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt set the next status hearing for April 13.
