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Defendant Receives New Attorney For 4th Time In Murder Case 

On April 18, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein granted a defense attorney’s motion to withdraw as counsel for a murder defendant, appointing a new attorney for the fourth time.  

Alton Rivers, 58, is charged with second-degree murder while armed as a senior citizen for allegedly stabbing Anthony Anderson, 68, to death with a screwdriver on the 3600 block of 14th Street, NW on July 27, 2018. 

During Tuesday’s court proceedings defense counsel Betty Ballester requested to withdraw as defense counsel. Her request was granted by Judge Epstein.

He appointed Stephen Logerfo as River’s new counsel.

Rivers’ case has been held before three different judges since 2018. 

Judge Epstein informed Rivers that his case has been in between judges due to routine judge rotations.

According to court documents Rivers and Anderson were observed by a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer fighting. After ordering them to stop fighting, the officer stated Anderson fell on the floor while blood came out of his mouth. 

The MPD officer then ordered Rivers to drop the screwdriver he had in his hand multiple times before he finally did, the document stated.

According to a witness Rivers and Andreson were swinging at each other. Witnesses stated that Anderson punched Rivers, knocking him to the ground. After being knocked down, Rivers got up and pulled out what the witness believed was a knife and began to repeatedly swing towards Anderson, stabbing him in the chest or abdomen area, documents stated. 

Rivers told MPD that Anderson initiated the confrontation, began jumping around, and put his hands behind his back. He said he believed Anderson was reaching for a weapon, so he pulled a screwdriver out of his pocket and stabbed Anderson once, documents stated.  

A status hearing was scheduled for May 12 to allow Logerfo to go over all information regarding the case.

Homicide Defendant Arraigned on Five Charges

During an April 14 felony arraignment, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe arraigned a homicide defendant on five charges including first-degree murder while armed. 

Seaun McDowney, 19, allegedly murdered 20-year-old Marquette White on the 3800 block of Commodore Joshua Barney Drive, NE on Jan. 21, 2022. According to court documents, 19-year-old Maurice Williams is McDowney’s codefendant in the case.  

McDowney was arraigned on charges of conspiracy, attempt to commit robbery while armed, first-degree murder while armed and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

His defense attorney Roderick Thompson entered a plea of not guilty. 

Although McDowney’s co-defendant was not present at the April 14 hearing, Judge O’Keefe stated that he wants to keep the codefendants’ cases together. 

A status hearing is scheduled for May 17. 

Homicide Defendant Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter of 15-Year-Old

During a felony status conference on April 14, 17-year-old Donjae Parker pleaded guilty to the murder of 15-year-old Malachi Jackson. 

The homicide took place in the 3000 block of 13th Street, NW on April 11, 2022. According to the prosecution, Parker was captured on surveillance camera before, during and after the crime. 

Parker pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed. His plea agreement will drop indictments on the remaining charges.

Defense attorney Kevin O’Sullivan requested  Parker be sentenced in January of 2024 following his anticipated graduation from high school. 

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe rejected this request and instead scheduled the proceeding for July. 

Members of the victim’s family who were present in the courtroom and voiced their opposition to Parker’s plea agreement. 

Jackson’s mother, Alvoncia Jackson, addressed the court. She took off her black coat to reveal a shirt with images of her son printed on it. 

Calling the plea agreement “too lenient,” and “shockingly unacceptable,” Jackson asked for the deal to be rejected.

“He is being given a slap on the wrist,” she said.

Judge O’Keefe thanked her for the statement and dismissed the parties.

Parker’s sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2023.

Document: Homicide on Good Hope Road, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a homicide that took place on the  1900 block of Good Hope Road, SE on April 16.

While responding to reports of gunshots, officers located  33-year-old Latanya Campbell in a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. She died on the scene.

Document: Homicide on V Street NW

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the homicide on April 14 on the 200 block of V Street, NW.

The victim was identified as 16-year-old Mylaki Young.

 

Document: Police Search for Suspect in Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is asking the public to help them locate and identify a suspect allegedly involved in a gun discharge inside of an establishment on the 400 block of 8th Street, SE.

Document: Traffic Fatality on Q Street, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a traffic fatality on the 1800 block of Q Street, SE on Aug. 14 that resulted in the death of  27-year-old Joshua Richmond.

Homicide Defendant Waives Right to Independent DNA Testing 

On April 14, a murder suspect waived his right to independently test DNA evidence from a crime scene. 

Marcus Isom, 43, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the stabbing of 67-year-old Michael Stover on Jan. 3, 2022, on the 500 block of 55th Street, NE. 

Isom alerted DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun that, after consideration, he was waiving his right to independent DNA testing.  

According to court documents, Isom accused Stover of stealing his money a few days before the incident took place. on the day of the incident, Isom confronted Stover about the missing money, and things got violent. Stover endured a stab wound to his abdomen. 

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers recovered and tested a folding knife, Jordan sneakers and a and a Timberland jacket that belonged to the defendant. 

Trial is slated to begin on Nov. 13. 

Parties are expected back in court for a trial readiness hearing on Oct. 20.

Lead Detective Begins Testimony in Trial of 10 Year Old’s Murder

The lead detective in a long-running homicide case connected to the murder of Makiyah Wilson testified on April 13. 

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 in relation to a fatal drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of 10-year-old Wilson on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer located surveillance footage cameras on a satellite image of the area of the shooting. The footage from the Wellington Park Apartment complex tracked the movements of the defendants on the day of the incident.

Because the prosecution had to frequently pause the surveillance footage to allow the witness to identify individuals in the videos, the detective was only able to get through about five pages of his 30-page report.

Given the length of the report and the surveillance footage, the detective is scheduled to continue his testimony at a later proceeding. 

Defense Questions Legitimacy of a Key Witness’s Grand Jury Testimony

In an April 13 hearing, the Grand Jury testimony for a key witness in a five-year-old homicide case was brought into question.

Alphonso Walker, 45, is being charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to the deaths of Dalonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, near the 400 block of 61st Street, NE on April 25, 2018.

The witness told a Grand Jury that Walker confessed to the murder during one of their conversations.

The prosecution is seeking to admit her testimony as out-of-court statements, but Walker’s defense attorneys Kevann Gardner and Prescott Loveland objected.

Defense counsel said the prosecuting attorney, who questioned the witness in the Grand Jury, didn’t ask questions solely related to Walker’s alleged confession. They argued he asked the witness questions related to information other informants provided in the case. 

The defense argued that all the information the witness testified to cannot be attributed to Walker. The parties began going through the transcript line by line to decipher what statements can and cannot be attributed to Walker.

They were unable to evaluate the entire testimony but said they will continue to do so when they are scheduled to return to court on April 19.

Bus Accident Results in Rescheduled Proceedings

A homicide defendant was one of several passengers on a prisoner transport bus when it was involved in an accident on April 13. The accident caused the defendant and others’ hearings to be postponed.

Dionte Anderson, 24, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection with the alleged shooting of Adrian Mack, 31, on Aug. 7, 2022, on the 300 block of 50th Street, NE.

Anderson was supposed to appear in front of DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt for a hearing, but along with several other defendants, Anderson was involved in a bus accident on the way to the courthouse. 

Anderson was transported back to the jail to receive medical treatment. It was unclear when Anderson would be able to appear, so the parties agreed to reschedule the hearing.

D.C. Witness reported that DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz told parties, in her courtroom, that there was little information about the crash, but after medical assessment, some prisoners returned to the jail while others stayed at the courthouse. 

All parties are scheduled to return to court on April 19.

Non-Fatal Shooting Case Continued Due to DC Jail Bus Accident

An April 13 pending plea resolution hearing in a non-fatal shooting case was continued due to an accident involving a bus that transports prisoners from the DC Jail to the courthouse. 

Marvin Smith, 30, is charged with aggravated assault  while armed in connection to a shooting that occurred on the 2400 block of Elvans Road SE on March 22, 2022. 

DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz told the parties that there was little information about  the crash but  after medical assessment, some prisoners returned to the jail while others stayed at the courthouse. 

The complainant in the Smith matter called 911 and advised he had been shot, according to court documents. When police questioned him, he stated he did not know who shot him.

The victim sustained injuries to his right lower leg and left knee and was admitted to a nearby hospital for surgery.

The case was continued to April 14 when the defendant rejected a plea offer from the prosecution.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 27.

Judge Accepts Plea For Lesser Charge in Non-Fatal Shooting

At a status hearing on April 13, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun accepted a plea deal, exonerating a defendant of assault with intent to kill while armed.

Andre Gregory was initially charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for allegedly shooting a victim on March 26, 2019, on the 4700 block of South Capitol Street, SE. According to court documents, Gregory, 32, allegedly shot the victim in the back two times at close range before fleeing the scene. 

At the hearing, Gregory, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

The prosecution stated in the proffer of facts that Gregory and one other suspect drove up in a light-colored hatchback and approached a man in a white BMW on March 4, 2019. Gregory held him at gunpoint and robbed him of his car. Gregory drove off in the light-colored hatchback, and the other suspect drove off in the victim’s white BMW. 

According to the plea deal, the defense and prosecution agreed to the mandatory one-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. However, no agreement was reached for the carjacking charge and is subject to the judge during sentencing. 

The sentencing is scheduled for June 12.