DNA Testing Inconclusive in Sexual Assault Case

At a status hearing on March 30, a defendant waived his right to further DNA testing after the prosecution’s tests came back inconclusive.

The 46-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree sexual abuse of a patient/client during the course of treatment on June 10, 2019. He allegedly raped the victim during services offered at a micro-blading spa on the 3600 block of 16th Street, NW.

At the hearing, the prosecution stated that they had tested DNA evidence collected during a sexual assault medical examination and DNA from the defendant. The testing showed that there was no male DNA evidence on the victim’s cervix and that the male DNA found on other intimate areas on the victim was inconclusive.

The defense then stated that the defendant wished to waive his rights to further DNA testing.

The next hearing is slated for Jan. 23, 2024.

Prosecutor’s Absence Leads to Rescheduled Hearing

A status hearing concerning a first-degree murder case is left unresolved and rescheduled due to the prosecutor’s absence.

Rashon Hall, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection to the murder of 22-year-old Joseph Simmons on Jan. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

In court on March 27, defense attorney Dana Page informed DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe that she hoped to have a hearing in which DNA is presented, but due to the information she was given a day before she has yet to follow up with Hall about it.

The prosecutor’s absence was not specified in court. However, defense attorney Imeime Umana relayed the message that the prosecutor would like to reschedule another date for a status hearing in which she will be present.

The parties are set to reconvene on April 19.

Defendant Continues With Attorney Despite Requesting New Counsel

After sending a letter to DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan expressing frustration with his counsel, a defendant decided to continue with his original attorney in a homicide case.

Eric Beasley, 32, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly committing a hit-and-run of 45-year-old cyclist David Farewell on the 2100 block of Young Street, SE on Sept. 4, 2020.

According to court documents, Farewell was filling up the tires on his bicycle with his wife at a gas station when Beasley began to harass them. Beasley then followed the two down the street where he allegedly proceeded to hit and run over Farewell, killing him.

During the March 30 hearing, Judge Raffinan had explained that Beasley had sent her a letter expressing frustration with his provided counsel.

After a private conversation between the judge, the defendant, and defense attorney Madalyn Harvey, Judge Raffinan recommended that Beasley not change counsel with his trial starting in six months.

However, she stated that if he continued to have major issues with his counsel, Beasley could request a new attorney.

Beasley agreed, stating that he wished to continue with his current attorney since his trial was set to begin in six months.

Judge Raffinan also said Beasley’s letter had mentioned a plea deal that she was not aware of. The prosecution explained that the deal was previously offered by a previous prosecutor on the case. However, the prosecution was still open to plea negotiations.

Upon hearing this, Harvey stated that the defense would be happy to continue negotiations.

The next hearing is scheduled for June 6.

Defendant Receives New Defense Attorney

A defendant charged with murder was appointed a new defense attorney after dissatisfaction with his former lawyer.

Darrell Moore, 45, is accused of shooting 38-year-old Julius Hayes on the afternoon of April 3, 2020, in a residential area of Northeast, DC. Hayes was shot six times on the 300 block of 18th Street, NE, and pronounced dead at a local hospital.

On March 29, former defense attorney Kevin Irving filed a motion to withdraw from the case due to his client’s disapproval. DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe accepted the motion and appointed the defendant to a new defense attorney Stephen Logerfo.

Irving made a motion to conduct DNA testing on items involved in the case. He is still waiting for the items to be tested.

However, because he will no longer serve Moore, he must inform Longerfo about the evidence testing.

Judge O’Keefe scheduled a time for this case to be finished.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on April 4.

Document: Homicide on Kearny Street, NE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred on March 30 on the 1500 block of Kearny Street, NE.

According to a press release, officers found 36-year-old Deandre Holmes dead on the scene.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to DC Jail Homicide

On March 30, a defendant pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in relation to a homicide that took place in a DC Jail cell.

Marcel Jackson, 36, is charged with second-degree murder in connection to the death of 37-year-old Sean Lee. On May 15, 2022, Lee and Jackson ingested PCP in their cell at the D.C. Jail located on the 1900 block of D Street, SE.

Lee was later found unconscious and had suffered blunt force trauma to the neck. Despite life-saving efforts, he succumbed to his injuries.

Jackson was being held at the DC Jail for second-degree murder while armed at the time of the incident for stabbing 22-year-old Antonio Jones on May 8 on the 2800 block of Hartford Street, SE.

At the hearing on Thursday, Jackson accepted a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter with an agreed sentence of 7 years in prison. DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan has accepted Jackson’s guilty plea.

Jackson has also pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in his other case, which is currently pending sentencing.

The sentencing for the jail homicide has been scheduled for June 23.

Document: Second Arrest Made in Homicide on 14th Street

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested March 29 a second suspect for a homicide that took place on the 2800 block of 14th Street NW on Nov. 3, 2021.

Trequan Nelson was arrested along with Demonte Gibson for allegedly shooting as 34-year-old Delonte King.

Defendant Found Incompetent to Stand Trial in Homicide Case

During a mental observation hearing on March 30, a defendant in a homicide case was found incompetent to stand trial and required to undergo further evaluation

Wonell Jones Jr. is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Audora Williams after a dispute about infidelity. On July 19, 2022, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to a report of a shooting on the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE, where they found Williams, 33, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to court documents, Jones, 35, has a history of domestic violence and made numerous threats to Williams before she was killed.

At the hearing on Thursday, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan stated that the DC Department of Behavioral Health had found Jones mentally incompetent to stand trial in this case. However, he said he would require further evaluation from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

The prosecution and defense had no objections to the court’s recommendations.

The defense, however, requested that Jones be released on home confinement in light of his mental incompetence. Judge Raffinan rejected this request.

The next hearing is slated for May 10.

Judge Sets Trial Date in Non-fatal Shooting Case

DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Lebovitz set a trial date in a non-fatal shooting case during a March 30 hearing.

Delante Smith, 29, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection to an incident on Feb. 6 on the 2600 block of Stanton Road, SE.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the area and spoke to two witnesses.

The victim said that after having an earlier confrontation, Smith, who was living next-door, banged on the door and a fight ensued. The witness said Smith immediately began shooting as they wrestled and eventually fled back to his apartment next door. The victim was not injured, but also said there had been an ongoing dispute with Smith.

A plea agreement was offered in the case, but Smith rejected it.

A trial readiness hearing is scheduled for June 30. Trial set for July 5.

Smith also has an open case from 2020 regarding an unauthorized use of a vehicle charge. Trial is slated to begin Aug. 2 in that matter.

Defense Requests Earlier Trial Date

A murder trial originally set for April 2024 was set for an earlier date on March 27.

Eric Davis, 60, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm for his alleged connection in the murder of 41-year-old Theodore Riley on the 1600 block of Gales Street, SE on July 19, 2021. According to court documents, Riley suffered from a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Defense attorney Howard McEachern informed DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe that a hearing on DNA evidence took place on Feb. 1 before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein. An accelerated trial date of Jan. 22, 2024, was established at that hearing based on a defense request.

The prosecution expects its case to run no longer than four days.

Both parties must submit pretrial motions by this coming June. Prosecutors must also respond to the defense statements by July 14.

A trial readiness hearing is set for Jan. 5.

Judge Finds Probable Cause in First-Degree Murder Case

On March 29, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt found probable cause to charge Demonte Gibson, with first-degree premeditated murder.

Gibson, 26, allegedly shot 34-year-old Delonte King on Nov. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW.

Judge Brandt told the court that, “probable cause is a low standard, and one must reach the identities and evidence to claim it,” stating the prosecutors had done just that.

According to the judge, the identity of the perpetrator was substantiated by a witness and the defendant himself. When Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers interviewed him he was shown an image of the individual and identified himself.

MPD officers argued that the clothing the defendant was wearing at the time of the incident and the clothing he was seen wearing later that day were the same.

Judge Brandt said the video evidence of the shooting shows the individual wearing similar clothing walking across 14th Street, NW toward the intersection with Girard Street, NW.

According to police accounts, the suspect reached into his pants and retrieved an item. The suspect then appeared to shoot a gun.

He is then seen meeting up with another suspect and running down 14th Street towards the 1400 block of Fairmont Street, NW, where the suspects are seen entering a building with masks on and exiting a few minutes later with the same clothing and no masks.

Brandt explained that the prosecution had proven probable cause that he was the killer.

After the judge’s ruling, Gibson’s defense attorneys requested he be released as he awaits next steps in the case, which was quickly opposed by the prosecutors.

Prosecutors stated that Gibson had been on release for previous charges and had several violations during his releases. The prosecution said they consider him a risk to the community due to the graveness of his actions.

Judge Brandt rejected the defense’s request to have him released, stating, “he has a track record of not following his imposed conditions,” and she could not find conditions that would keep the community safe if he was to be released.

Parties are expected back in court for a felony status conference hearing on May 26.

Defense Seeks Dismissal in Murder Case on Grounds of Privacy Violation

The defense filed a motion for dismissal in a murder case after claiming the prosecution violated a suspect’s right to privacy guaranteed under the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).

William Ransford, 59, is charged with second-degree murder in in the death of Debra McManus, 39, on Oct. 23, 1993, near 4th and Trenton Streets in Southeast DC.

During the March 27 proceedings, defense attorney Dana Page argued that the prosecution wrongly requested medical information about Ransford from the DC Jail where he is currently being held.

The prosecution responded that a court order wasn’t necessary.

HIPAA rights do not apply and the defendant’s privacy rights weren’t violated, the prosecutor said.

“Dismissal is the only remedy” Page insisted.

McManus was found near the woods by the high school with visible scratches and signs of strangulation, according to court documents. DNA testing in 1993 did not provide any definitive profiles, however the evidence was retested in 2020 and DNA from McManus’s left sock matched with Ransford’s.

DC Superior Court Judge Raffinan Maribeth said she needed more time to consider the issue and scheduled the next hearing for May 26.

Document: Homicide on 30th Street, SE

Metropolitan Police Department officers are investigating a homicide that occurred on March 29 on the 3000 block of 30th Street, SE.

After receiving reports of a shooting, officers located 34-year-old Antonio Burnette inside a residence. He died on the scene. Officers also find another male victim who received treatment at an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Document: Police Arrest Suspect in Burglary Shooting

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.

Judge Finds Probable Cause in Murder Case

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.

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