Defense Attorney Dismissed in Homicide Case

During a Nov. 29 hearing, defense attorney Sweta Patel was dismissed from a murder defendant’s case due to the defendant requesting a new one. The defendant is now being represented by attorneys Anthony Matthews and Molly Bunke.

Dominique Brown-Young, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Deshaun Cupid on the 700 block of 18th Street, NE. On March 10, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives located Cupid in the driver’s seat of her Gray Infiniti sedan. Her two-year-old and one-year-old children were unharmed in their car seats. Cupid was later pronounced dead that evening.

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo granted a joint request from counsel for continuance pending a Grand Jury.

The next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2023.

Judge Orders Mental Observation Hearing for Sexual Assault Defendant

On Nov. 29, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun ordered a sexual assault defendant to undergo a mental health evaluation.

The 37-year-old man is charged with first-degree child sex abuse for allegedly sexually assaulting his cousin on Oct. 28, 2020, on the 1800 block of 29th Street, SE. According to court documents, the victim was about six or seven years old and living at her grandmother’s house when the sexual assault occurred.

Defense attorney Joseph Yarbough requested an outpatient competency screening for the defendant.

The screening is scheduled for Dec. 8

The defendant allegedly asked the victim if she wanted to play and took her upstairs to her mother’s bedroom, court documents state. She sat down on the bed and the defendant pushed her to the middle of the bed pulled her pants and underwear down to her ankles and engaged in sexual intercourse with the child.

The victim said he stopped once he heard a noise outside of the window and it was her mother pulling into the driveway. He then pulled her pants up and carried her down the stairs and told her “keep this to yourself.”

The prosecutor mentioned that the last prosecutor offered a plea deal that was never said on the record.

Yarbough mentioned that he knew about the plea offer, but it was never accepted or rejected. He said he doesn’t want to review the plea agreement with the defendant until after his mental health screening.

The defendant, who is currently released on his own recognizance, is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on Dec. 21.

Judge Reschedules Sentencing in Homicide Case After Defendant Decides to Continue with Guilty Plea

A new defense attorney for a murder defendant told DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun the defendant decided against seeking to withdraw his guilty plea in a hearing on Nov. 28.

Devon Stephens, 36, pleaded guilty on June 10 to second-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting death of 34-year-old Eugene Issac, Jr. on Feb. 15, 2020, on the 100 block of N Street, NW. Prosecutors initially charged Stephens alongside two other defendants, but one defendant’s case was dismissed by a judge. The other defendant, Elton Wiggins, pleaded guilty in November of 2021.

Stephens had previously requested a new defense attorney after his sentencing date was delayed several times. Defense attorney Kevin Irving was appointed to represent him.

Irving told Judge Okun on Monday the defense was ready to go forward with sentencing. Irving requested a date sometime in January of 2023.

Irving also noted that although Stephens previously requested to withdraw his plea, he no longer wanted to pursue that direction. Judge Okun asked Stephens directly if this was true, and he confirmed it was.

According to court documents, Isaac was shot while leaning into his father’s car to talk to someone inside. The next morning, that car was found by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, with surveillance footage showing two men, matching the descriptions of Stephens and Wiggins, exiting the car 13 minutes after the time of the shooting. The drive from the crime scene to where the car was parked would have taken approximately 12 minutes, according to court documents.

Last year, Wiggins pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in relation to the incident, as well as accessory after the fact to the murder.

The parties are scheduled to reconvene on Jan. 20, 2023, for a sentencing hearing.

1 Month Later…Parties Continue to Discuss DNA Testing for Homicide Trial

Almost an entire month later, parties continue to discuss the status of DNA testing in homicide case.

Kavon Young, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting of 66-year-old John Pernell on July 3, 2010, on the 300 block of Nelson Place, SE. According to court documents, Pernell received multiple gunshot wounds during an alleged robbery that took a fatal turn.

During the Nov. 28 hearing, the prosecution and the defense had not yet decided what they would do regarding DNA testing. Considering it had been over 10 years since the shooting took place, the prosecution previously requested time to test additional evidence.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee granted counsel time to discuss next steps and offered to step in if there were disputes between the parties. Counsel has until the end of the day to decide if DNA evidence could be presented in trial.

Judge Lee scheduled another status hearing for Dec. 8, so that counsel may update him in time for Young’s impending trial, which is scheduled to begin on Feb. 13.

Document: 19-Year-Old Killed in Southeast

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Nov. 27, on the 4300 block of Wheeler Road, SE.

According to a press release, at about 12:44 am, officers located 19-year-old Corey Riggins Jr., suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Document: 16-Year-old Killed in Southeast

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Nov. 26, on the 1600 block of Morris Road, SE.

According to a press release, at about 11:05 am, officers located 16-year-old Jakhi Snider suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Document: Suspect Wanted in Connection to a Non-Fatal Shooting

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating suspects in connection to a non-fatal shooting offense that occurred on Nov. 23, on the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

According to a press release, at about 12:27 am, officers located an adult male suffering from apparent gunshot and stab wounds.

Document: Homicide in Southwest

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Nov. 25, on the 4000 block of South Capitol Street, SW.

According to a press release, at about 2:50 am, officers located 44-year-old Sherif Akande inside of a residence suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Document: Traffic Fatality That Killed a 42-Year-Old Man

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a traffic fatality that occurred on Nov. 24, at the intersection of 58th Street and East Capitol Street, NE.

According to a press release, at about 4:06 am, a white vehicle was traveling westbound on East Capitol Street, NE, when they struck 42-year-old Darryl Leak who had fallen into the crosswalk. The white vehicle then left the scene.

Darryl Leak was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Parties Discuss Evidence Prior to Homicide Trial

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt held a motion hearing for a homicide defendant on Nov. 22 to present evidence to be reviewed during trial.

Jermaine Harris, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting death of 38-year-old Lamar Walters on the 2400 block of Franklin Street, NE on Jan. 6, 2020.

A variety of photos, messages connected to the victim and defendant and videos containing firearms were presented and needed to be reviewed by Judge Brandt to see if evidence is relevant or not.

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrived on the scene and found Walters suffering from several gunshot wounds. He was transported to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.

The prosecutor said a possible suspect was also pronounced dead on Dec. 27, 2020.

Next hearing was set on Nov 28.

Defendants Plead Not Guilty to First-Degree Murder

During a Nov. 21 arraignment, three co-defendants pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and armed robbery in a 2021 case.

On the night of July 2, 2021, 21-year-old Rosendo Miller was found lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds after he exited a store on the 1300 block of Brentwood Road, NE. The victim was allegedly robbed and gunned down by three individuals. The suspected gunmen, 22-year-old Mark Fletcher, 22-year-old Malik Bynum and 21-year-old Larry White were arrested that night.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan first read out the six charges to all three defendants who were indicted on first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm and conspiracy.

Fletcher, Bynum and White pleaded not guilty to all six charges.

Judge Raffinan also granted prosecutors’ request for a Grand Jury protective order. The order will protect witnesses’ confidentiality, encouraging them to come forward and testify freely without fear of retaliation from any party.

The defendants are being held without bail.

A status hearing was scheduled for Jan. 27, 2023.

Defendant Pleads Guilty in Sexual Abuse Case

During a Nov. 21 hearing, a 30-year-old Maryland man pleaded guilty to second-degree child sex abuse.

On Aug. 31, 2021, Child Protective Services in Prince Georges County, Md., received an anonymous phone call in connection with the sexual abuse of a 9-year-old girl, according to court documents. The information was then transferred to the DC Child and Family Services Agency.

The victim stated that on Jan. 1, 2021, she was getting ready for a birthday party at home. She was in the shower when the defendant, the victim’s father, came into the bathroom and began to question her about what she had been watching on her phone. She told him that she had clicked on a link that sent her to a pornographic website where she saw naked men and women.

The defendant proceeded to expose his private parts to the victim and motioned her to come towards him. The victim described how she was very scared and her body was shaking. The defendant told her to put her mouth on his private part and then put it in her mouth.

The victim stated that this only happened once, and she didn’t tell her mother because she didn’t want to get in trouble.

On Sept. 8, 2021, detectives interviewed the defendant at his home in Maryland. The defendant stated that on an unknown date in December of 2020, he was at the victim’s home as he searched her web history and came across pornographic websites.

He said he then told the victim to get in the shower, and he intended to whoop her while she was in the shower. In the bathroom, he confronted her about what he had found on her phone.

The defendant stated that as an attempt to “scare her straight” he took his penis out and told her to put her mouth on it.

He said the victim looked “frantic” and was shaking in fear.

“I definitely put my penis in her mouth,” he told police. He also mentioned that it was not erect so he used his hand to put it in her mouth, saying it was only “a quarter of the tip” and it was only in her mouth for a “hot second.”

The defendant also said he was confronted by someone regarding the sexual abuse and was fully aware that their conversation was being recorded.

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt accepted the defendant’s guilty plea for second-degree child sex abuse.

The defendant is set for sentencing on Feb.16, 2023.

Judge Continues Homicide Case To Give Prosecutor Time To Resolve Private Issues With Witness

On Nov. 22, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun continued a homicide case to give the prosecutor enough time to resolve some issues with a witness.

Morris Jones, 38, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Tiffany Wiggins on April 17 on the 3800 block of Minnesota Ave, NE. According to court documents, Jones is also known as Antonio Jones.

During the Tuesday proceeding, the prosecutor requested to reschedule the hearing because he had a private matter to resolve with a witness.

Defense attorney Prescott Loveland asked for an approximate time frame for postponing the matter.

Judge Okun spoke with both parties privately and decided the prosecutor’s private reasoning for rescheduling the hearing was important but needs to be handled in an effective and timely manner.

On the morning of the homicide, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to a shot spotter alert for six rounds of gunfire on the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE, according to court documents. After MPD canvassed the area, they located Wiggins inside a bronze Infiniti suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

Wiggins’s autopsy report concluded that she suffered a gunshot wound to the lower left side of her back. The bullet traveled through the body puncturing her left and right lung, heart, and her aorta before exiting a portion of her chest causing her chest cavity to fill with blood.

The hearing is scheduled to continue on Dec. 7.

Close Friend ‘Not Sure’ if Defendant was With Him the Day of Homicide

During a Nov. 21 jury trial, a detective recounted his initial investigation and a forensic pathologist confirmed the victim was killed by a bullet to the head in a 2017 homicide case.

On Aug. 10, 2017, Robert Moses, 23 and James Mayfield, 22 approached the intersection of Montana and Saratoga Avenues, NE while armed with .40 and .45 caliber handguns. Collectively, the defendants fired over ten rounds at people standing on Saratoga Avenue. One of these bullets struck 17-year-old Jamahri Sydnor in the head as she was driving, killing her. Three other bystanders were struck by the bullets.

Moses was arrested on Oct. 26, 2017. He is charged with 13 counts, including first-degree murder while armed, assault with the intent to kill while armed, and aggravated assault while armed.

Mayfield was arrested on Dec. 27, 2017. He is charged with 25 counts, including first-degree murder, assault with the intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, threat to kidnap or injure a person, robbery while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of an unregistered firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, and attempt to commit robbery while armed.

Phillip McDaniel, 26, an accomplice who was arrested and charged in 2017 for his involvement in Sydnor’s murder, signed a plea deal to lessen his sentence to second-degree murder. This deal included his agreement to testify against Moses and Mayfield.

On Monday, a close childhood friend of Moses’ who also knew McDaniel from Langdon Park continued his testimony. The witness recalled hanging out with Moses during the afternoon of Oct. 26, 2017, before Moses was arrested that evening.

Prosecutors read aloud a segment from the witness’ Grand Jury testimony, in which he stated that “he wasn’t sure” if Moses was with him, or if he saw him at all, on Aug. 10, 2017, adding that he typically saw McDaniel “every blue moon.” When asked to clarify this statement, the witness explained that he meant “every other day.”

The witness confirmed that he sent Moses money in prison once, but admitted his contact with the defendant had since been limited to a single phone call. He maintained that no one associated with Moses, nor Moses himself, had ever threatened him.

The trial resumed on Nov. 22 with the prosecution’s arguments. Arguments are set to continue on Nov. 28.