Case Acquitted: Homicide Defendant Arraigned

Tierra Posey was acquitted of all charges on March 20, 2024.

Defendant arraigned on homicide charges during an Aug. 12 hearing.

Tierra Posey, 24, was charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license in connection with the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Tia Carey on Jan 6, 2020, on the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

The attorneys asked for more time to continue plea negotiations.

According to Posey’s defense attorney, Kevann Gardner, a counteroffer was given to the prosecution yesterday.

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled Posey’s next court appearance for Sept. 16 to review the status of negotiations.

Judge Postpones Hearing for Sex Abuse Case

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun decided to continue a status hear Aug. 12 for a felony domestic violence case.

A sex abuse defendant is charged with second-degree sex abuse of a minor, three counts of second-degree sex abuse of a minor with aggravating circumstances, and attempted second-degree of a minor with aggravating circumstances.

Judge Okun granted a mutual continuance to give the defendant time to consider a plea offer from the prosecution.

The defendant was originally charged in 2020, but the case experienced many delays due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The indictment on multiple abuse counts took place in February 2022.

The defendant’s next hearing was scheduled for Aug. 18.

Document: Homicide in Northwest

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 11, on the 2000 block of Florida Avenue, NW.

At approximately 9:31 p.m., MPD officers responded to a location after hearing the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers found two male victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. One of the victims succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The decedent has not yet been identified.

Judge Denies Releasing Domestic Violence Defendant After Delay in Preliminary Hearing

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt denied the defense’s motion to release a domestic violence and sex abuse defendant after his preliminary hearing was rescheduled for Aug. 22.

The defendant is charged with first-degree sex abuse for assaulting his former girlfriend, who is currently pregnant with their child.

At the Aug. 9 hearing, Will Alley of the Public Defender Service, replaced Russell Hairston as defense counsel due to an administrative issue that prevented the preliminary hearing from going ahead as planned on Aug. 5.

Alley filed an oral motion for the defendant’s release until the preliminary hearing, arguing that the defendant was concerned about missing work, had to support his pregnant girlfriend, and attend rehabilitation appointments for injuries to his ribs, neck and shoulder.

“I have great concerns with releasing him to go back to facilitate that relationship,” the prosecutor said, explaining that the defendant’s girlfriend was the victim in question and expressing concern that the defendant would re-assault her.

“He had his hands around her neck on the sidewalk until a bystander intervened,” she said.

The prosecutor added that the defendant is on probation for three separate cases, one of which was a plea deal for misdemeanor sex abuse. The prosecutor said the plea effectively dismissed another case that involved the defendant’s former girlfriend.

Alley argued that the victim would not be at risk because there is a stay away order from the victim and her residence. The defendant resides with his mother.

“We’re not asking to modify the release conditions,” Alley said. “He would provide financial support through an intermediary.”

Judge Brandt denied Alley’s request, citing the severity of the case as “a rape case” and questioning his “ability to follow directives” based upon at least two prior criminal convictions involving sexual misconduct and two cases in which his probation was revoked.

“What happens after the prelim, we’ll see,” Judge Brandt said. “The court will have the opportunity to see just how strong the government’s case is.”

The defendant interrupted Judge Brandt before she finished explaining her ruling. The U.S. marshals led him out of the courtroom as he shouted at the judge.

Judge Brandt presided over the hearing in place of DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee.

Data Shows More Sexual Assailants Are Strangers

D.C. Witness data shows that sexual assault cases adjudicated in DC during the first half of 2022 compared to the first half of 2021 found more sexual assailants are strangers than friends and family.

Of the cases, one-third of adjudicated sexual assault cases, approximately 11 out of 34 cases, in DC that were adjudicated during the first half of 2022 were perpetrated by strangers to the victim, nearly double the percentage from the same time frame in 2021.

On May 26, Kenneth Pollard pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual abuse and second-degree burglary in one case involving an incident that occurred in 2021 and misdemeanor sex abuse in another case involving an incident from 2020. The misdemeanor sex abuse case stems from an incident on Feb. 14, 2020, in which Pollard, 54, approached a woman at a bus stop and groped her.

On Aug. 31, 2021, Pollard “assaulted a female stranger and asked her to have his baby” while she was waiting at a bus stop in Lower Central Northeast, according to the prosecution. He proceeded to put her in a chokehold and continued to repeat that he wanted her to “have his baby.” The victim was able to flee into a nearby cafe but Pollard was able to assault her again, dragging her through the building.

“While the defendant was dragging the complaint he reached into her shirt, fondling her breasts,” the prosecutor said. He dragged her outside, and the assault continued until bystanders were able to intervene.

The entire assault was captured on surveillance video. Pollard told the court during his sentencing that at the time of the assault, he was on PCP. He told officers on the scene that he assaulted someone but does not remember specifics.

The largest percentage of reported sexual assault cases in the first half of 2021 were perpetrated by friends and acquaintances of victims, constituting more than one-third of 33 reported cases. However, the largest percentage of cases during the same time period in 2022 were perpetrated by strangers, according to D.C. Witness data.

In one case, a 31-year-old assailant was sentenced to 90 days in jail for misdemeanor sexual abuse on June 6. According to court documents, he assaulted a woman in an apartment complex located on the 1700 block of R Street, NW. The assailant was also sentenced to serve 18 years on supervised probation.

Despite this change in the relationships between defendants and victims, the majority of adjudicated sexual assault cases in DC, approximately 83 percent in 2021 and 67 percent in 2022, continue to be perpetrated by someone with whom the victim is familiar.

D.C. Witness previously reported about a 52-year-old defendant charged with second-degree child sex abuse for allegedly abusing his two preteen goddaughters in May 2021. According to court documents, the defendant allegedly admitted to touching the victims inappropriately, but says he does not know what happened beyond that. He was arrested two weeks after the alleged crime.

D.C. Witness also analyzed the ages of sexual abuse victims in adjudicated cases from 2021 and 2022, finding the majority of victims of adjudicated sexual assault cases in DC, approximately 55 percent in 2021 and 62 percent in 2022, were adults.

However, despite making up less than half of adjudicated sexual assault cases, children continue to be particularly vulnerable to assaults by family members, family friends, and associates of parents and guardians.

There were 16 total adjudicated cases with child victims in the first half of 2021 and 13 reported cases with child victims in the same time period of 2022.

Editor’s note: This report is limited to sexual assault cases that have been adjudicated at the DC Superior Court during the first half of 2021 and 2022, between the months of January and June. The report is not indicative of all sexual assaults in DC within that time period.

Document: Traffic Fatality That Killed a 66-Year-Old Man

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a traffic fatality that killed a 66-year-old West Virginia man.

At approximately 4:11 p.m., after leaving the 23rd Street underpass a driver of a Nissan Altima was moving southeast on Virginia Avenue, NW. Outside of a crosswalk, a pedestrian started to cross Virginia Avenue from northbound E Street when the pedestrian was struck by the Nissan, suffering serious injuries.

The decedent was identified as Timothy Fingarson.

Document: 25-Year-Old Man Shot, Killed in Southeast

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 10, on the 5100 block of Call Place, SE.

At approximately 3:41 p.m., officers located 25-year-old Aryeh Wolf suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Document: Decedent Identitied in Southwest Shooting

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 9, on the 100 block of Irvington Street, SW.

At approximately 4:52 p.m., an off-duty MPD officer was stopped at a specified location regarding a shooting victim. When the off-duty officer arrived, he discovered 20-year-old Brian Buxton suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Buxton succumbed to his injuries the following day and was pronounced dead.

Document: Domestic Violence Homicide on Savannah Street

The Metropolitan Police Department announced an update to a homicide that occurred on Aug. 10 on the 200 block of Savannah Street, SE.

According to a press release, 52-year-old Leslie Simpson was found suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Police believe the death was domestic in nature.

During the investigation, detectives identified the suspect as 65-year-old Steven Dreher. Dreher was found dead in Laurel, Md from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Preliminary Hearing Starts in Homicide Case

Detective begins testimony during an Aug. 10 preliminary hearing.

De Andre Brewer, 25, is charged with first degree murder while armed in connection to the fatal shooting of 41-year-old Douglas Jerome Johnson in the 4800 block of North Capitol Street, NE on April 6 at around 10:21 a.m. According to court documents, Brewer was arrested in a stop near the crime scene at around 10:39 a.m.

During the preliminary hearing on Aug 10, the prosecution called a detective from the homicide branch of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who led the investigation. According to the detective, Brewer’s clothing at the time of the arrest matches witness’s descriptions of the shooter.

The prosecutor also showed photos taken from surveillance video showing an individual wearing the same clothing as the defendant at the time he was arrested.

During cross examination, defense attorney, Sylvia Smith, emphasized the discrepancies between witness testimonies.

The detective said the “descriptions were largely consistent.”

Smith also brought up Johnson’s extensive criminal record, including his many domestic disputes and protective orders. According to the DC Court, Johnson was convicted of carrying a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of ammunition in 2018.

Parties were not able to finish the preliminary hearing on Aug 10. DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled the proceedings to resume on Aug 11.

Judge Set to Close Sex Assault Case in 2 Weeks

At an Aug. 8 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt accepted the prosecution’s request to delay a probation violation ruling by two weeks.

Todd Anderson, 27, pleaded guilty on Oct. 29, 2020, to charges of assault with significant bodily injury and misdemeanor sex abuse for sexually assaulting and punching a dog walker in the face when she tried to escape on the 1400 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Aug. 22, 2019.

Under the Youth Rehabilitation Act, a DC law that allows the court to impose more lenient sentences on offenders under the age of 25, DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson sentenced Anderson to two years of probation on Dec. 30, 2020.

Anderson violated this probation when he was convicted of a crime in Essex County, N.J. on Dec. 3, 2021. He was arrested for the offense in April 2021 and remained detained for the matter until December of that year. He has yet to be sentenced despite a scheduled sentencing last June.

Anderson was released for approximately three months before he was arrested for an additional incident that occurred in Hudson County, N.J. in March. He is currently incarcerated in Hudson County, and he appeared in court virtually.

Judge Brandt emphasized that the discussions around probation violation should be solely focused on the Essex County matter because the Hudson County case is currently pending trial.

“Mr. Anderson was in violation of his probation long before Hudson Country rolled into the scene,” she said.

The prosecution asked Judge Brandt to revoke Anderson’s probation, stressing the severity of Anderson’s sentence in the outstanding New Jersey case.

Defense attorney Aubrey Dillon argued to dismiss the probation violation, referring to “significant pretrial punishment and detainment” and “a number of systemic failures” that contributed to Anderson’s recidivism.

“This is a treatment issue,” he said.

Diillon said Judge Dayson released Anderson into a partial hospitalization program that offered mental health treatment at Rutgers. However, Anderson was discharged to an out-patient program that “was not able to meet his needs” at the height of the pandemic.

Anderson was forced to go off of his medication when he encountered issues with his health insurance, counsel explained.

Dillon stressed that if Judge Brandt revoked Anderson’s probation, he would be sent to DC and lose eligibility for a treatment program called Integrity House at the Hudson County Jail. The program provides support services for participants while they are incarcerated and after they are released.

Anderson is currently on a waitlist for the program.

“The program has the ability to do re-entry the way re-entry is supposed to be done,” Dillon said.

The prosecution asked Judge Brandt for two more weeks to further investigate the Integrity House program and to await any updates from a scheduled court appearance for the Hudson County matter on Aug. 23.

Dillon indicated that Anderson could accept a plea deal and be sentenced at the Aug. 23 Hudson County hearing.

Judge Brandt granted the prosecution’s request for additional time but emphasized the urgency with which she wants to close the case.

“New Jersey is going to do whatever New Jersey is going to do,” Judge Brandt said. “It’s time for DC to make a decision.”

“I like to be in control of my own cases and right now I feel the state of New Jersey is driving where this case goes,” she added. “If they’re in the driver’s seat, what do you need me for?”

Judge Brandt scheduled the parties to return to court on Aug. 25 to close the case.

New Date Set for Retrial in Murder Case

A murder defendant gets a new date for his retrial.

Chad Hawthorne, 41, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in connection to the shooting of 35-year-old Antonio Bassett on the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE on May 22, 2017.

In a March trial, jurors deliberated for more than a week but could not come to a decision on any of his charges. On March 21, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun ruled a mistrial.

Hawthorne’s retrial was originally scheduled for Aug. 7. However, during an Aug. 9 hearing, Hawthorne’s defense attorney, Jonathan Zucker, asked for a new date due to a scheduling conflict.

The retrial is expected to last five days.

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo rescheduled the retrial for Aug. 9.

Document: Arrest Made Exactly a Month After Juvenile Was Shot and Killed

Metropolitan Police Department detectives made an arrest in connection to a homicide that occurred on July 9, on the 3500 block of Hayes Street, NE.

At approximately 5:26 p.m., officers located 17-year-old Damari Deon Wright suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Aug. 9, 18-year-old Marquelle Hodges was arrested and charged with second degree murder while armed.

Plea Negotiations Begin in Stabbing Case

Parties announced that they are beginning negotiations to resolve a stabbing case at an Aug. 8 hearing.

Cana Browne, 25, is charged with second-degree murder while armed with a sharp object for allegedly stabbing 42-year-old Ebony Morgan on May 10 on the 100 block of P Street, NE. Police officers found Morgan unconscious and unresponsive with an apparent stab wound to the right side of her neck, according to court documents. Morgan succumbed to her injuries on May 15 at Washington Hospital Center.

DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz found substantial probability at a July 8 preliminary hearing after two witnesses identified Browne from video surveillance.

The attorneys asked for one to two months to review materials and begin negotiations. DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun scheduled Browne’s next court appearance for Oct. 7 to review the status of negotiations.

Document: Homicide in Northeast

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 7 at approximately 12:17 a.m., on the 300 block of 50th Street, NE.

Officers located 31-year-old Adrian Mack suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead after all life-saving efforts failed.

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