Metropolitan Police Department detectives made an arrest in connection to the murder of a 33-year-old woman that was murdered in July 19, on the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE.
At approximately 1:24 p.m., officers found Audora Williams suffering from apparent gunshot wounds inside a residence. She was pronounced dead at the scene. On Aug. 29, 34-year-old Wonell Jones Jr., was located in Jacksonville, Florida and was charged with first-degree murder while armed.
During an Aug. 29 preliminary hearing, D.C. Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan ruled that a fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man has enough evidence to go to trial.
On March 20, 2021, Metropolitan Police Department detectives received reports of a shooting on the 100 block of Madison Street NE. Nyjell Outler,19, allegedly shot and killed 21-year-old Demetris Johnson and injured another. Outler fled the scene after the shooting and was on the run for 11 months before being apprehended in February of 2022. He was on the U.S. Marshals’ Top 15 Most Wanted list and was aware he was wanted even when he returned to D.C., according to court documents.
The lead detective on the case said there was one victim pronounced dead at the scene and another victim severely injured who sustained two gunshot wounds to the legs and was sent to the hospital.
The prosecutor said the only gun found on the scene belonged to Johnson, but that four shell casings from a different gun were found at the site as well. Although the suspected murder weapon was not found, the casings, according to the prosecutor and the witness, were those of an assault rifle.
“If firing towards a gender reveal party, where he knows there are people, is not conscious disregard,” the prosecutor said, “I don’t know what would be.”
Judge Raffinan agreed with the prosecution, saying Outler’s actions met the standard of conscious disregard. She went on to say that while there can be no question on the identity of the shooter, given overwhelming video and GPS evidence, it could only be speculated to what extent Outler acted in self-defense.
Surveillance video of the party did not record audio and did not show the fronts, notably the waistbands, of the three men that approached Outler shortly before he fired. Outler said they were armed and expressed intent to rob him.
Defense Attorney Gemma Stevens argued that any attempts to speculate were on shaky legal ground at best.
When the prosecution asked the witness to describe the intent of the three men, he attempted to “read some tea leaves and say that nothing dangerous was happening to the defendant,” Stevens said.
Stevens also said that, during his interview with the police, Outler told detectives he was in fear for his life when he was approached.
However, the fear of robbery was disputed by several witnesses who were on the scene, as well as one Webex viewer, who held up a sign that read “wasn’t nobody tryna rob that dirty ass crack baby, he shot that mf in the back.”
Though Judge Raffinan ruled against substantial probability, she did not grant Outler conditional release, noting that he had other pending felony trials in the DC. Outler will remain detained at the D.C. Jail.
He is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 9 for a status hearing.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 28, on the 100 block of Xenia Street, SW.
At approximately 5:50 a.m., an off duty MPD officer located 25-year-old Brandon Smith suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The attorney for one of two co-defendants charged in the death of a 37-year-old woman, requested his client’s release on Aug. 26.
Chakeatia Jackson, 38, and her eldest son, 18-year-old Jaquell Jackson were charged with second-degree murder while armed for the murder of Tarshaqua Chappell. Chakeatia was arrested and charged on Dec. 9, 2021, she is currently released under the High Intensity Supervision Program. Jaquell was arrested and charged on Dec. 16, 2021. He is being held at the DC Jail.
Jaquell’s defense attorney, Brian McDaniel, requested Jaquell’s release under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with GPS monitoring.
McDaniel said Jaquell has attempted to better himself while awaiting trial. He provided the court with a letter in support of Jaquell’s release.
Despite denying the teenager’s release on May 25, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan agreed to review the letter along with information that was previously provided. The motion for release was held pending a later decision.
Chakeatia has been in full compliance with release conditions, including successful weekly check ins, keeping her employment status up-to-date, and scheduling project empowerment classes.
Despite this compliance, her request to modify her release conditions was denied.
Judge Raffinan requested Chakeatia’s defense attorney, Errin Scialpi, file the request in writing, and for the prosecution to respond. Judge Raffinan said this would allow her to view the details of Chakeatia’s release more closely.
The prosecutor said she expects to have an indictment in the case by Aug. 31.
On Sept. 15, 2021, Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the report of a shooting in front of a residential building on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE. Upon arrival, officers found Chappell unconscious and suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the chest and torso, according to court documents.
Prosecutors allege that Chakeatia was involved in a verbal dispute with adults and students at Ballou High School. She was allegedly followed home by two cars after deciding to leave. Jaquell is accused of shooting into the driver’s side window of one of the cars before fleeing, court documents state.
Judge Raffinan scheduled the next status hearing for Sept.14.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives made an arrest in connection to a coercion and enticement of a minor offense that occurred on Aug. 2 at approximately 8:17 a.m., on the 600 block of D Street, NW. The suspect made an effort to entice a 9-year-old into performing sexual acts.
On Aug. 26, the 50-year-old defendant was arrested and charged with coercion and enticement of a minor.
During an Aug. 29 hearing, defense attorney Madalyn Harvey requested an individual mental health evaluation to determine the competency of a defendant charged with murder at St Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.
Charles Lee, 28, was charged with first-degree murder on March 10 for the murder of David Dowdell on March 9.
Since the murder occurred at St. Elizabeths, Harvey said she hoped to avoid complicating the evaluation process with institutional bias from psychiatrists employed by the Department of Behavioral Health, citing lawsuits filed against the Department.
In order to give the prosecution time to respond, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan continued the hearing, mandating that official motions be made in writing.
Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to 1100 block of Alabama Ave, SE for reports of an assault. Upon arrival, officers found Dowdell unconscious and not breathing, according to court documents.
The next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 21.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help locating a suspect wanted on a DC Superior Court arrest warrant.
At approximately 8:16 p.m., officers responded to the 800 block of 7th Street, NW for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found 21-year-old Juwaan Henry suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt issued a continuance for a 2021 child sex abuse hearing.
The 30-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree child sex abuse for allegedly forcing his 9-year-old daughter to perform oral sex on him. The defendant claimed he initiated this act to punish his daughter for the supposed pornographic content on her phone, according to court documents. He was arrested and charged on Sept. 14.
During the Aug. 26 hearing, defense attorney Dana Page requested a motion to reschedule the current hearing, saying “we’re still trying to come up with a resolution for this case.”
Judge Brandt accepted the request.
The next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 when the prosecution’s current plea offer is set to expire.
During an Aug. 25 motion hearing, the defense attorney asserted that the defendant’s car had evidence that was not preserved.
On Sept. 5, 2020, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department were summoned for reports of 45-year-old David Farewell being struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle on the 2100 block of Young Street, SE.
Eric Beasley, 32, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The vehicle was registered to Beasley’s partner.
According to defense attorney Madalyn Harvey, Beasley’s vehicle was seized in September of 2020 for testing. She states that the vehicle was missing its exhaust pipe when turned over by the prosecution. As the exhaust pipe would be essential to both sides’ arguments, the defense insisted that it be recovered and provided to them.
Harvey said she intended to call two witnesses in pre-trial hearings, one witness is a supervisor with the MPD to discuss the vehicle in question and the procedure for evidence collection.
The prosecution argued that the only evidence relevant is the view of the car from the front, and since Farewell was hit head-on, the prosecutor said the exhaust pipe was immaterial, having only come in contact with Farewell’s bike.
“The bike being dragged didn’t kill the decedent,” the prosecutor said. “That’s why I question the materiality.”
Harvey disagreed with this analysis, saying that the entire exhaust system, including the muffler and the pipes to the engine, was removed but would have been pertinent given Farewell ended up underneath the car and was not killed on impact but died later.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan eventually permitted the prosecution to call a supervisor at the MPD’s impound lot. Two images of the suspected car, one of which the witness identified as the car with its exhaust pipe fitted on top, were shown by the prosecution.
The MPD supervisor said, “a lot of these cars come in unrecognizable,” and the lot would take any parts that had fallen off or were touching the ground and put them inside the car or on top to prevent toxic runoff into the Potomac.
Harvey then cross-examined the witness, who clarified that he had not received any formal training in the proper procedure for preserving evidence. He also testified that although there was a requirement to put identification tags on all pieces that had detached from their cars and log those tags, he had not logged the exhaust system of the suspected vehicle, which accounted for it going missing.
The parties are scheduled to reconvene on Aug. 26.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 25, on the 800 block of 7th Street, NW.
At approximately 8:16 p.m., MPD officers located 21-year-old Juwaan Henry suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives made an arrest in a homicide that occurred on Aug. 14, on the 3900 block of 4th Street, SE.
At approximately 9:45 p.m., officers located 41-year-old Cynthia Stewart suffering from apparent stab wounds inside of a residence. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Aug. 25, 45-year-old Alexis Hawkins was arrested and charged with second degree murder while armed.
During an Aug. 25 hearing, a 31-year-old sex abuse defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree child sex abuse.
On the evening of Feb. 27, Dennis Morton arrived at his girlfriend’s residence at the 900 block of Kennedy Street, NW. While lying on his girlfriend’s bed with his child and his niece, Morton began inappropriately touching his niece, court documents state. After his girlfriend fell asleep, Morton took the victim to his daughter’s room and proceeded to sexually assault her.
Morton was picked up for an unrelated charge, but after custodial review, he was charged with first-degree child sex abuse for the offense on Feb. 27.
Morton accepted an Alford Plea in which he asserted his innocence but, given the evidence presented by the prosecution, understood that he would likely be found guilty by a judge or a jury beyond reasonable doubt if he were to go to trial.
Both parties settled on a sentence of 12 years in prison. Morton will also have to register as a sex offender.
“I don’t know. I guess. Whatever was going on with my niece I did it. I didn’t have knowledge of it at the time,” he said, explaining that he was under the influence of drugs at the time.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan scheduled the sentencing date for Nov. 4.
At defense attorney Roderick Thompson’s request, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan, granted permission for a new insanity evaluation.
Seth Andrews, 35, was initially charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother, 67-year-old Hazel Evans, on the unit block of 35th Street, SE on July 16, 2020.
The prosecution voiced concerns of putting the trial in jeopardy with this notion of an insanity evaluation. Judge Raffinan scheduled the deadline of the evaluation for Nov. 4. Andrews’ trial is scheduled for March 6, 2023.
During the Aug. 25 hearing, Thompson said there was an issue with the prosecution’s DNA testing and that the defense would be conducting their own testing which should be back by the first week of November.
D.C. Witness previously reported that an autopsy revealed that the victim’s injuries were consistent with strangulation.
During the preliminary hearing, the prosecution played a portion of the 911 call the defendant made on the day of the homicide.
“It’s my fault mommy, I’m sorry I didn’t want to kill you mommy, I’m sorry,” the defendant said during the call.
They also played a video clip of Andrews waiting in the police station. “I killed my mother,” he is heard saying. “I’m going to hell.”
A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective on the case testified that blood found at the crime scene was likely a match for Andrews’ DNA. The detective said this blood may have come from a large cut Andrews had on his wrist from one of two separate assaults he had been accused of committing the day before the murder.
The assault cases have been dismissed.
Judge Raffinan scheduled the next hearing for Sept. 15 to discuss new issues. Counsel should submit motions and expert notices by Jan. 6, 2023.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan ordered a mental observation screening for a sex abuse defendant.
The defendant is charged with first-degree sexual abuse related to a kidnapping of an adult female that occurred on Dec. 26, 1998, on the 2300 block of High Street, SE. The victim was abducted at gunpoint, raped, and beaten.
On Nov. 28, 2005, a child victim was abducted at gunpoint on the way to school, raped, and then dropped back off at school, according to court documents.
The defendant was arrested and charged for these offenses on Aug. 5.
According to the judge, a doctor will assess the defendant’s understanding and competency to stand trial, and the results of the evaluation would be discussed during the next hearing.
A mental observation hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2.
From 2021 to 2022, there was approximately a 5 percent decrease in the number of sexual assault cases adjudicated at the DC Superior Court between January and June.
During the first six months of 2022, the total included 21 incidents, which, even though lower than the number of cases adjudicated during the same time period in 2021, was still nearly half of the total amount of cases adjudicated in court last year.
The incidents reflected several different types of assaults, including assaults that happened in singular incidents, assaults that happened over multiple incidents with children and assaults that occurred with underage individuals.
In 2021 there were 22 single incidents, including one death, one underage relationship and three incidents that involved multiple sexual assault occurrences.
There were five types of sexual assault cases adjudicated at the court in 2021 with single incidents being approximately 77% of all sexual assault cases, approximately 5 percent involved multiple incidents with separate victims, approximately 9 percent involved multiple incidents involving a relative, approximately 5 percent involved multiple incidents in which the assailant was in an underage relationship, and approximately 5 percent involved sexual abuse that resulted in death.
On Jan. 31, 2021, 30-year-old Brenea Franklin was found with lacerations on her neck and pronounced dead at 12:35 a.m. An autopsy report determined a knife was used and the defendant, James Lewis, was identified through surveillance footage and eyewitness statements. The defendant’s girlfriend called police on Feb. 23, 2021, to offer more information on the defendant, according to court documents. The 24-year-old defendant was indicted on 10 charges, including first-degree sexual abuse, assault with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping while armed, possession of a prohibited weapon, felony murder while armed, and felony contempt.
Lewis is set for a status hearing on Aug. 29.
Another defendant, who was 59 years old at the time of the incident, forced his niece to have oral sex on the basement steps of her home on Jan. 12, 2021. Two days later the defendant forced her to perform oral sex again while she was watching television on Jan. 14, 2021. The older sister of the family reported the occurrence.
Even though the victim could have been subjected to extensive childhood abuse, only two cases could be substantiated.
On June 10, a status hearing resulted in the defendant remaining on no bond. The proceeding ended with a continuance because the defense attorney Ronald Resetartis needed more time to review the case.
Another defendant, a 50-year-old god-uncle, was reported to have groped his 12-year-old and 14-year-old nieces between January 2021 to May 2021.
The victims reported the assault to their parents and police were notified.
On June 30, a felony status hearing was held for the defendant, in which he rejected a plea offer. Another hearing is scheduled in October to check the status of an indictment.
D.C. Witness data also includes a sexual assault case that involved an underage relationship in 2021. The 35-years-old defendant is charged with sexual abuse after being in a relationship with a 13-year-old girl.
The defendant is reported to have had a sexual relationship with the victim between Feb. 5, 2021, to Feb. 6, 2021.
On Jan. 24, a plea offer was placed on record and the defense requested to continue the case to discuss the offer to the defendant. The defendant, who was on pretrial release, violated his probation on July 13.
D.C. Witness data also shows that Frank Bordern Jr. pleaded guilty to attempted third-degree sex abuse and misdemeanor sex abuse for slapping multiple strangers on different areas of their bodies on Feb. 3 on the 1700 block of Q Street NW, 1600 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW, the intersection of 17th Street & P Street, and the 2400 block of 18th Street NW. The defendant is scheduled for a sentencing on Sept. 16.
Another defendant, 23, was charged with sexually assaulting separate victims on May 1, 2021.
According to court documents, one victim reported being driven to an alleyway and was threatened with a screwdriver and forced to perform oral sex on him. In an earlier incident on Sept. 3, 2011, the defendant held another victim at gunpoint and forced her into his car, which they drove to an alley way where the victim was forced to perform oral and vaginal sex. The defendant is charged with first-degree sex abuse.
On June 27, the defendant is reported to be in compliance with pretrial release conditions and a status hearing has been scheduled to keep courts updated on the progress of the case. A jury trial date is still pending.
Sexual Assaults in 2021
There was a total of 43 sex abuse cases adjudicated at the D.C Superior Court for the entire year of 2021.
Among the 43 cases, there are approximately six different sex abuse incident types. Thirty-three cases were single incidents, three cases involved multiple incidents with separate victims, four cases were multiple incidents involving a relative, one case included multiple incidents in which the assailant was in an underage relationship, one case included multiple incidents between two adults who were in a relationship and one case involved sexual abuse that resulted in death.
Editor’s note: Given the nature of sex abuse incidence, the process of the events that occurred, to reporting the incident, to when the defendant is seen in the courts; the case year may differ from when the incident has occurred. A limitation is that some cases are closed to the public from the D.C superior court. Also, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), only 310 out of every 1000 sexual assaults are reported to police. Therefore, meaning 2 out of 3 sexual assaults go unreported (RAINN, 2021).
