Defendant Pleads Guilty to Killing His Girlfriend

During a July 22 hearing, a defendant pleaded guilty to one count voluntary manslaughter while armed.

On Feb. 8, 2021, Ronald Miller, 43, stabbed his 28-year-old girlfriend, Tiffany Hardy, to death. Hardy was found inside a residence on the 1600 block of E Street, NE, with multiple stab wounds to her neck and body. Hardy was pronounced dead at the scene.

“I killed her. She was trying to set me up,” Miller told the officers when they arrived at the scene.

According to court documents, Miller claimed that Hardy attempted to stab him after arguing with him about money.

However, defense attorney Jason Tulley clarified that although Miller believed he was being set up, he thought he was acting in justifiable self-defense according to the law.

“When he says self-defense, he actually and honestly believes it was,” Tulley said.

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt accepted Miller’s guilty plea and expressed appreciation towards the defendant for his attention towards his case.

“You were right there following along,” Judge Brandt told the defendant. “I appreciate your attention to the details.”

Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 18.

Document: Arrest Made in Northeast Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department detectives made an arrest in a homicide that occurred on Feb. 21.

At approximately 2:50 a.m., officers located 80-year-old Dennis Stroy, inside of a medical facility, suffering from trauma. On March 20, Stroy succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

On July 20, 62-year-old Leon Odoms was arrested and charged with second degree murder.

Judge Finds Probable Cause in Sex Abuse Case

During a preliminary hearing on July 20, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee found probable cause in a sex abuse case between a teacher and a student.

The 40-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree child sex abuse for allegedly engaging in romantic and sexual activities with multiple under-aged victims. At the time of the alleged offenses, the defendant was the victim’s teacher.

According to court documents, the defendant is also accused of engaging in sexual activities with multiple other students. These investigations were separate from this case.

The prosecutor called the lead detective in charge of the investigation.

The detective said he initially contacted the complainant as a part of another investigation into another former student’s allegations against the defendant. During a phone interview, the complainant “broke down and became emotional” and said she and the defendant had been in a romantic relationship while she was still a student.

Throughout the investigation, the complainant provided screenshots of her text conversations and emails with the defendant to the detective, which the prosecutor showed in court.

Defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman cross-examined the detective on the findings of previous investigations into the defendant’s conduct with students. Cadman asked the detective about an investigation into allegations in 2019 that the defendant engaged in sexual activity with students.

The detective said a student reached out to him in the course of the 2019 investigation and said while the defendant was “overly playful” with students, he had never made any “creepy advances” and was never inappropriate. The investigation was closed afterward.

The detective also said he closed an investigation into an alleged offense between the defendant and another student in 2017 when he found the defendant did not break any DC laws.

According to the detective, the complainant told him that she never reached out to school or law enforcement authorities concerning her relationship with the defendant before her interview. She said she didn’t want to report what happened because of how she felt towards the defendant.

Cadman asked about the detective’s interviews with several witnesses, two of which were close friends with the complainant.

He said one of the friends was not aware of any sexual acts between the defendant and the complainant, while the other friend was not aware of any romantic or sexual relationship between the two.

Cadman said the complainant was currently involved in a civil lawsuit against the defendant and the school for $70 million, giving her “70 million dollars’ worth of reasons for lying.”

Despite the complainant’s credibility issues, Judge Lee found probable cause.

The defendant’s next court appearance has not yet been scheduled.

Judge Arraigns Murder Defendant, Trial Date Not Yet Set

Vernon Parrish, 38, was arraigned on first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) found 53-year-old Ronald Bailey suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in his residence on the 5200 block of E Street, SE on Sept. 26, 2021. Bailey, who was still conscious at the scene, told the officers Parrish, his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend, shot him before succumbing to his injuries an hour later.

Bailey’s girlfriend told MPD officers Parrish began making threatening statements toward the two after he became aware that Bailey was romantically involved with her eight months prior.

Parrish was also arraigned on assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly threatening the ex-girlfriend at gunpoint prior to Bailey’s shooting.

When interviewed by MPD officers, the ex-girlfriend told them Parrish is “crazy and a stalker.”

During the July 21 arraignment, defense attorney Billy Ponds entered a plea of not guilty on all counts on behalf of Parrish.
DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee scheduled an additional hearing on Sept. 23 to set a trial date and to discuss potential DNA testing.

Motion Hearing Continued in Homicide Case

During a hearing on July 21, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan scheduled a new date for a motion hearing.

Eric Beasley, 31, is charged with first-degree murder in a case connected to the hit and run of 45-year-old David Farewell on Sept. 4, 2020, on the 2100 block of Young Street, SE.

Beasly was unable to attend the hearing due to being quarantined at DC Jail, therefore the parties were unable to continue addressing the motion.

Judge Raffinan scheduled the continued the hearing for Aug. 1.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Assault on Co-worker

During a July 19 hearing, a defendant pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault.

William Rausch, 42, was originally charged with third-degree sex abuse. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault in front of DC Superior Judge Marisa Demeo.

According to a proffer of facts, on March 17, 2011, a woman went out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with her colleagues. When she went back to the office to retrieve her coat after the night out, she got trapped in the entrance way of the double door. Rausch was contacted because he had the keys to unlock the doors. Upon his arrival, he unlocked the interior door and told the victim that he wanted to speak with her in which she readily accepted.

Rausch then locked her into a conference room, turned off the lights, pushed her against the table, and pressed himself against her backside.

Rausch pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault that holds the potential penalty of 180-days in jail and/or a fine of $1,000.

Judge Demeo scheduled the sentencing hearing for Sept. 16.

Document: Traffic Fatality That Killed a 40-Year-Old Woman

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a traffic fatality that killed a bicyclist on July 20.

At approximately 8:09 a.m., a bicyclists was traveling on the right side of a Mack truck traveling southbound on the 900 block of 21st Street, NW. At the intersection of 21st Street and I Street, NW, the Mack truck began a right hand turn at which time the bicyclists was struck. The bicyclists succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 40-year-old Shawn O’Donnell.

Sex Abuse Defendant Rejects Plea Deal

A child sex abuse defendant rejected a plea deal during a July 20 hearing.

The defendant was indicted on 17 counts, including first-degree child sex abuse where the defendant was under the age of 12 and second-degree child sex abuse where the victim was under the age of 12. All of the counts included language of the sex offenses being committed against two or more victims. According to court documents, the sexual abuse was allegedly done to multiple children, who attended a home-run daycare program, beginning in 2004.

The 62-year-old defendant was arrested on March 8 on the 2400 block of 17th Street, NW.

On behalf of their client, defense counsel rejected a plea deal, which included pleading guilty to first-degree child sex abuse, second-degree child sex abuse, attempted child sex abuse, and misdemeanor child sex abuse.

According to the prosecution, the plea deal would have dropped 13 of the 17 charges.

The defendant is represented by defense attorneys Jason Tulley and Hannah Claudio.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan scheduled a status hearing for Feb. 24, 2023.

Plea Offer Under Consideration in Homicide Case

A DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee gave parties in a homicide case more time to work on a potential plea deal during a July 20 hearing.

Mohamed Goodwin, 34, allegedly shot 25-year-old Devonte Wilson on the 700 block of Morton Street, NW. He is being charged with second-degree murder while armed. On December 3, 2020, Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report of a traffic accident. Upon arrival, officers found Wilson inside a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck, according to court documents. Wilson succumbed to his injuries the next day.

Goodwin rejected the prosecution’s original plea offer on June 16. However, defense attorney Lee Smith stated that he has filed a counteroffer and is working with the prosecution on how to move forward.

Goodwin was arrested, while on pretrial release.

Judge Lee scheduled another hearing for Aug. 2.

Document: Homicide on the 400 block of Burbank Street, SE

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on July 19, on the 400 block of Burbank Street, SE.

At approximately 4:13 p.m., officers located 40-year-old William Whittington Jr., suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Document: Homicide in Northeast

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on July 19, on the 3600 block of Jay Street, NE.

At approximately 10:29 p.m., officers located 34-year-old Shelton Robinson suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. She succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Document: Homicide in Southeast

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on July 19, on the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE.

At approximately 1:24 p.m., officers located 33-year-old Audora Williams inside a residence, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Document: Homicide on 1000 Block of Southern Ave

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department are investigating a homicide that occurred on July 19 on the 1000 block of Southern Avenue, Southeast.

According to a press release, 57-year-old Charles Davis was found suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Judge Denies Motion to Release Homicide Defendant in 2010 Shooting

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee denied the defense’s request to release a homicide defendant charged in connection to a 2010 shooting.

Kavon Young, 31, is charged with first-degree murder while armed with a firearm in connection to the fatal shooting of 66-year-old John Pernell on July 3, 2010. According to court documents, Pernell was found on the 3000 block of Nelson Place, SE, with multiple gunshot wounds after what witnesses described as an armed robbery that turned fatal.

Young was arrested in Sept. 26, 2019, after authorities matched his DNA profile from a separate shooting incident with DNA recovered from Pernell’s autopsy. Court documents also stated that a witness incarcerated for a felony conviction connected Young to the homicide.

At the July 12 hearing, the prosecution said a new round of DNA testing was conducted and the results were expected by the end of the month.

“Plenty of time to get results to the defense by the trial date,” the prosecutor said.

The trial is currently scheduled to begin on Feb. 13, 2023.

However, defense attorney Matthew Davies argued that Young should be released while the prosecution waits for the test results, saying the prosecution’s case “depends entirely on DNA results’ that the defense has yet to receive.

D.C. Witness previously reported that the prosecution was experiencing delays with testing at a Feb. 11 hearing. The prosecutor informed the court that Bode Technology, a private laboratory conducting the testing, would ensure that the evidence was “first in line” to be tested.

Judge Lee denied the defense’s motion, explaining that DNA test results are irrelevant to his decision to detain Young.

“This isn’t a case where I need to find substantial probability,” Judge Lee said.

“I just can’t overlook his prior history,” he said. “Mr. Young has a phenomenal record of firearms violations. It’s not safe to put him in the community.”

Young will continue to be held at the DC Jail. His next court appearance is set for Sept. 2 to discuss the DNA test results.

Prosecutor Expects Indictment For Murder Case in 3-Months

The prosecution announced that an indictment was expected for a murder defendant.

Marcus Isom, 42, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing his 67-year-old uncle, Michael Stover, on Jan. 3 on the 500 block of 55th Street, NE. According to court documents, Isom accused Stover of taking his money during a party on Dec. 27, 2021.

During the July 13 hearing, the prosecutor told DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun that she expected to have an indictment in three months.

Defense attorney Jason Clark confirmed the prosecutor’s expected indictment date.

Isom’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 5.

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