Judge Sentences Child Sex Offender to 24 Months in Prison

After two days of sentencing, a judge sentenced a man convicted of child sex abuse to two years in prison.

Raymond Diggs, 37, was originally charged with five counts of first-degree child sex abuse, enticing a child, and misdemeanor sexual abuse of a child for sexual acts that were conducted with his 9-year-old stepdaughter. Diggs was first charged in this case on Feb. 9, 2019.

On Sept. 21, Judge Kravitz reviewed all given testimonies, notes, and victim impact statements given during the Sept. 12, and Sept. 15 hearings. In his decision, he referenced Diggs’s prior history concluding that he is a first-time offender and a first-time sex offender.

Diggs pleaded guilty to second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances and second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances where the victim was under the age of 18 and actor had a significant relationship with the victim on Feb. 19, 2020.

The parties agreed on a sentence between 3-15 years in prison, 10 years of supervised release, and a 10-year registry as a sex offender.

Diggs was consciously aware of his actions and upon his release back in February of 2019, he demonstrated remorse and has not offended again, said Judge Kravitz.

He was sentenced to 24 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and is required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

As part of the sentence, Diggs will be required to attend sex offenders therapy, individual trauma therapy, and drug testing.

Diggs is required to self surrender to the Bureau of Prisons when he is assigned a specific location.

Hearing Continues So Homicide Defendant Can Consider Plea Deal

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee continued a hearing on Sept. 21, so a homicide defendant could have time to consider a plea offer.

William Whitaker, 20, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and criminal street gang affiliation in connection to the murder of 18-year-old Malick Cisse on Jan. 8, 2020, on the 1300 block of 7th Street, NW.

Defense attorney Paula Pagan was present as stand-in counsel for David Benowitzs. Pagan asked to reschedule on the behalf of Whitaker to review the plea offer prosecution sent over the night before.

The deal hadn’t been reviewed by the defendant because the document wasn’t printed. The prosecution suggested they could possibly print out the offer and review it with the defendant before the hearing began.

Judge Lee wanted to know why the defense didn’t review the offer with the defendant before the hearing because the plea deal was sent over months in advance and last night.

Pagan said the formal plea offer hasn’t been received in writing.

“What is the difference,” Judge Lee asked.

Pagan said placing the deal in writing is an “appropriate and necessary” step because the defendant should be aware of all the terms and conditions that come with taking a plea deal.

The prosecution said the plea deal is to second-degree murder while armed and the defense has received the plea because it was sent in an abundance of caution due to discrepancies in the fact section. The plea deal was set to expire months ago but will remain until the next hearing.

Judge Lee told Whitaker to review the plea and talk to his lawyers and family members to make his final decision.

According to court documents, Cisse walked alone to the area of the Mount Vernon Square Metro station around 11:22 p.m. after a woman, who is believed to be Whitaker’s significant other, asked to meet him on the train. When he arrived, the woman was not there.

Cisse began walking back to his residence as a suspect, who is believed to be Whitaker, drove up in a car and allegedly shot him in the back of the head at approximately 11:31 p.m. Cisse was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

The next hearing is set for Oct. 12.

Document: Arrest Made in a Southeast Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department detectives made an arrest in a homicide that occurred on May 6, on the 2300 block of Nicholson Street, SE.

At approximately 4:29 pm, officers located 32-year-old Rashad Davis suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Sept. 22, 31-year-old Marcus Barringer was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed.

Witnesses Speak of Pattern of Physical Abuse in Homicide Victim’s Relationship

During a Sept. 20 jury trial, the prosecution called six witnesses to share their knowledge of footage and interactions with the defendant and victim. Several witness testimonies indicated a potential pattern of physical abuse within the defendant and victim’s relationship.

On July 24, 2020, 57-year-old Darnell Sterling was arrested and charged with murdering his 34-year-old girlfriend, Olga Ooro. Sterling was the last known person to see Ooro before she was reported missing, one week earlier.

A former concierge of the Twelve12 apartment building, where Sterling lived, described a fight he saw between Sterling and Ooro on July 13, 2019. Earlier that evening, the concierge reported seeing the couple leave and return from an evening out, appearing “normal” and talkative both times.

After receiving a noise complaint from one of Sterling’s neighbors of Sterling’s, the concierge found Sterling yelling at his girlfriend, insisting she leave his apartment. Ooro staunchly refused, adamant about collecting her belongings which had fallen from her purse and all over the floor.

According to the concierge, Sterling repeatedly shut the door in attempts to drive his girlfriend out. Each time, she would jam her foot into the door, preventing it from closing fully.

The concierge described Ooro as bleeding from the nose and mouth, while her leg was “scabby and bleeding” from repeated scrapes by the door.

The prosecution called a patrol sergeant who arrested Sterling for assault after the July 13 incident. The sergeant’s body camera footage showed him speaking with a frenzied Sterling. Sterling revealed scratches on his neck where Ooro allegedly grabbed him while refusing to leave.

The sergeant then compared the scratches to Ooro’s injuries, which landed her in an ambulance. The officer concluded that Sterling had assaulted Ooro, and she had fought back in self-defense.

Although Sterling was later released from jail, he was given a stay-away order from Ooro.

During another officer’s testimony, body-cam footage showed Sterling in front of the apartment building. Sterling had contacted authorities after Ooro reportedly visited him at his apartment, breaching Sterling’s stay-away order.

According to Sterling, Ooro kept begging him for money despite his repeated refusals. When Sterling became fed up, Ooro said “I’ll kill you” and attempted to stab him with a fork.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan scheduled the trial to resume on Sept. 21.

Judge Delays Hearing to Allow Homicide Defendant to Consider Plea Offer

During a Sept. 20 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee granted a continuance, giving a sexual assault defendant time to decide whether to take a plea deal.

On July 8, the complainant told Metropolitan Police Department officers that the defendant opened the door to her apartment, which is located on the 100 block of I Street, SE. The apartment was unlocked, and approached her. The defendant is charged with assault with the Intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse by force and first-degree burglary.

“I spoke with him, and I guess he needs to talk to some people in order to come to conclusions,” his attorney Anthony Smith said.

The prosecutor agreed to the continuation.

She said that he groped her thigh. She said he wanted to have sex with her and climbed into her bed with his penis exposed. It was then that a witness entered the room and pulled him away, according to court documents.

The defendant stayed in the apartment building, walking around an interior courtyard. He was arrested in the early morning on July 9.

According to the court documents, the defendant exposed himself to a female officer while in handcuffs.

Judge Lee scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 7.

Opening Statements Reveal Incriminating Phone Records in Homicide Trial

Incriminating phone records between Derek Turner, 31, and Duan Hill, 33, were referenced during the prosecution’s opening statements on Sept. 20.

Turner and Ronnika Jennings, 44, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy in connection to the shooting death of 28-year-old Andrew McPhatter on March 5, 2017, on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE. Hill is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Turner is also charged with another count of first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting death of 23-year-old Devin Hall.

On a jail call, Turner allegedly told Hill, “We told her what to do. We told her what to do.”

The prosecution presented the 10mm Glock, found in Turner’s car, that was ballistically linked to each of the shootings and murders. The prosecution said Turner would call Jennings after each shooting or encounter with police and presented their phone records to the jury.

Jennings was a civilian employee with the Metropolitan Police Department as a station clerk. She is accused of assisting Turner with his crimes by accessing confidential police reports.

A detective with the Metropolitan Police Department noticed Turner’s GPS tracker was being manipulated. That detective also noticed Jennings had constantly been running Turner’s identifiers through the systems.

Turner, Hill, and Jennings allegedly had a plan for Turner’s former girlfriend, Marshay Hazelwood, to tell the attorneys and police that the 10mm Glock was hers to get Turner out of jail. However, whenever Hazelwood was subpoenaed in front of a grand jury, instead of going along with the plan, she invoked her fifth amendment right.

Jennings searched Turner’s name through police databases and accessed police reports with witnesses’ information. She gave Turner real-time information about what the police were doing or not doing.

“Ms. Jennings’ weapon of choice was that computer terminal. Mr. Turner’s weapon of choice was the 10mm Glock,” the prosecutor told the jury.

Turner’s defense attorney, Michael Madden, is scheduled to begin his opening statements on Sept. 21.

‘Potomac River Rapist’ Homicide Hearing Continues with Detective on Stand

A defense attorney for an elderly man charged with rape and murder called into question Sept. 19 a Metropolitan Police Department detective’s interrogation tactics while investigating the case.

Giles Warrick, 63, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the sexual assault and death of 29-year-old Christine Mirzayan. She was found dead with multiple wounds on Aug. 2, 1998, in a wooded area on the 3600 block of Canal Road, NW.

“Are you trained that it’s okay to mislead a person to obtain their consent,” said Warrick’s defense attorney, Stephen Mercer, to the detective who received the defendant’s consent to test his DNA.

Mercer played several audio clips of the interrogation.

“You gave him factually inaccurate information about the length of time the test would take,” Mercer said.

The detective said he promised Warrick the findings would come in between six and eight weeks to “make the situation feel less frightening.” Mercer argued that the detective deceived Warrick to obtain his consent.

Mercer also asked the detective about his questioning of Warrick.

During the detective’s questioning, he assured Warrick that by speaking up, he would spare his family the “embarrassment” and “hardship” that this case would bring. “They are innocent people in this,” the detective told the defendant.

Warrick is accused of being the ‘Potomac River Rapist’ who is responsible for a series of rapes in DC and Maryland between 1991 and 1998. An FBI Analyst ran the serial rapist’s DNA profile through the federal Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and found it matched DNA from eight unsolved rape cases and one murder, court documents state.

The FBI offered a $25,000 reward for anyone with any information on the cold case. According to court documents, 100 plus tips and leads were generated. The homicide investigation continued for 20 years until Warrick’s arrest in November of 2019.

The hearing followed an earlier motions hearing on Sept. 16.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee scheduled the motions hearing to continue on Oct. 5.

Document: Apprehended Suspect Extradited and Charged in a 2020 Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department made an arrest in a homicide on Aug. 6, 2020, on the 600 block of 46th Street, SE.

Officers located 26-year-old Michael Brittingham suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

On Aug. 29, the Los Angeles Police Department located and arrested 19-year-old Dreaun Young in Hollywood, CA. On Sept. 20, Young was extradited to Washington DC and charged with second-degree murder while armed.

Judge Continues Sentencing for Second Time

During a Sept. 20 sentencing, D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Okun granted defense attorney Raymond Jones’s request to have the hearing pushed for continuance.

Devon Stephens, 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in the death of Eugene Isaac, Jr, 34, on the 100 block of N Street, NW, on Feb. 15, 2020. He was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed in relation to the murder.

Jones requested time because there were COVID-19-related issues. He did express the importance for the families to get closure.

The sentencing that was supposed to take place on Sept. 20 was originally set to be held in August but was continued.

The prosecutor told Judge Okun that she has been “accommodating and patient with all delays.”

She said that there was no major need for a continuance.

Judge Robert Okun said no further extensions would be granted after this continuance and the sentencing would take place at the next date.

Stephens is scheduled to return to court for his sentencing on Nov. 7.

More Information Needed to Proceed with Murder Trial, Judge Says

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo said she needed more information on counsel’s trial readiness of a murder case in which the defendant is accused of killing his best friend.

Eugene Burns, 30, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, obstructing justice, and threating to kidnap or injure a person in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Onyekachi Emmanuel Osuchukwu III.

During the Sept. 20 hearing, Judge Demeo wanted to “touch base” with Burns’ defense attorney, Mary Kennedy, and the prosecution, to address any motions or representations expressed as the parties prepare for trial on Nov. 29.

During the hearing, Kennedy also requested additional to time to review and process evidence.

“There are a lot of moving pieces I’m not privy to,” Judge Demeo said, granting the request.

According to court documents, Burns and Osuchukwu had been friends since they were 8 years old. They attended school together in Southern Maryland.

Despite these ties, Burns allegedly opened fire on Osuchukwu on Nov. 14, 2015, in an apartment on the 2900 block of Second Street, SE, where he died at the scene. The incident is believed to have resulted from a drug-related dispute, according to court documents.

Parties are scheduled to return to court on Oct. 21 to discuss matters, which weren’t disclosed in open court, for the preparation for trial.

The prosecutor told Judge Demeo that the trial would abide by the two-week time frame allotted.

Judge Sets Tentative Trial Date for Homicide Defendants

Parties in a homicide case settled on a tentative date for trial under the counsel of DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt. The next available date isn’t until nearly three years after the incident.

On Apr. 21, 2020, brothers, Daivion Williams, 24, and Dijon Williams, 23, allegedly opened fire on 30-year-old Nurudeen Thomas on the 4100 block of 14th Street, NW. Thomas was transported to Washington Hospital Center where he succumbed to his injuries later that morning.

Daivion’s defense attorneys Andrew Ain and Errin Scialpi and Dijon’s defense attorneys David Knight and Pierce Suen expressed concerns over scheduling conflicts in light of the backlog caused by the pandemic.

Counsel along with Judge Brandt settled on June 12, 2023, as the earliest possible date to begin undergoing trial.

Both brothers are charged with two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, and carrying a pistol without a license outside home or business.

During the Sept. 16 hearing, the prosecution estimates the trial would take about two weeks.

In the meantime, Judge Brandt and the parties are set to return to court on Nov. 4 for a status hearing, where they would also determine a more concrete trial date.

Judge Reschedules Preliminary Hearing in Homicide of 23-month-old Child

A preliminary hearing was postponed on Sept. 20 because of a defendant’s exposure to COVID-19 and his placement in quarantine at the DC Jail.

JD Wheeler, 23, was charged with second-degree murder in connection to the accidental shooting of 23-month-old Legend King Wheeler on the 2300 block of Chester Street, SE on Nov. 24, 2021.

Defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman requested a rapid COVID-19 test for Wheeler to confirm if he will receive a negative test to attend a future preliminary hearing.

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun denied the request because he doesn’t think it will be appropriate to ask the jail to order a test kit.

Wheeler’s quarantine is expected to end on Sept. 24.

Judge Okun scheduled the parties to resume the hearing on Oct. 14.

To read more about the case click here.

Judge Sets Hearing Date as Parties Prepare for Sex Abuse Trial

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo set a hearing date to discuss matters regarding a 2018 sex abuse case.

The 43-year-old defendant is charged with second-degree sex abuse, voyeurism – distributing and disseminating, simple assault, voyeurism – recording, fourth-degree sex abuse, and contempt in connection to a sex abuse that occurred on July 28 on the 3700 block of 9th Street, NW.

According to court documents, the defendant performed oral sex on a woman with whom he had previous relations with while she was asleep. He then recorded and photographed the encounter, sharing this content with others, including a minor.

During the Sept. 19 hearing, defense attorney, Steven Logerfo, inquired about DNA evidence in this case.

Judge Demeo informed the court that the defendant’s cellphone is the only evidence that has been found in this case.

Logerfo then requested a motion for weekly reporting on behalf of the defendant, citing his compliance with pretrial release over the last 2.5 years. The defendant was initially released on Nov. 22, 2018.

Judge Demeo granted this motion.

The next hearing is set to occur on Jan. 20, 2023 as parties prepare for a trial on July 10, 2023.

Prosecutors Establish Timeline for Homicide in Jury Trial

In a Sept. 19 jury trial, the prosecution called witnesses to lay out a detailed account of how they said the defendant killed the victim.

On July 24, 2020, one week after the disappearance of his girlfriend 34-year-old Olga Ooro, Darnell Sterling was arrested and charged with her murder. Sterling, 57, was charged earlier in the year with allegedly assaulting Ooro. He gave conflicting accounts to the police in various interviews before his arrest. According to court documents, he was the last person to see Ooro before her disappearance. Ooro’s body has not been recovered, and no murder weapon has been identified.

Calling six witnesses to the stand on Monday, the prosecution attempted to fill in the gaps of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) timeline.

The prosecution said Sterling killed Ooro on July 17, brought her body to his car on July 18, disposed of it in Maryland, and went out on July 19 with flyers for a missing person.

A trained police dog smelled human remains on the front passenger seat of Sterling’s car later that week.

Monday, a witness said Sterling entered his restaurant carrying flyers and wearing a shirt with Ooro’s face and the word “missing.” Sterling was crying, the witness recalled, but agreed when the prosecutor that they were “crocodile tears.”

The prosecution recalled a witness who testified in the previous trial and knew Ooro. He said he never saw any altercations between her and Sterling.

Ooro’s mother testified that she was called to her daughter’s apartment on July 18 on the 300 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW because Ooro’s son had been found unattended. When she made it to the apartment, the witness sat on the bed to catch her breath and noticed the sheets were missing.

“I didn’t put so much thought into it, I just thought she had done laundry, but there were no bedsheets on the mattress,” she recalled. “Just a comforter, and pillows, that’s it.”

The witness said she checked the laundry later on and saw both the washer and dryer were empty.

Using a combination of floor plans, surveillance footage and an activity report for Ooro’s key fob, the apartment’s lease manager and the prosecution pieced together the nights of July 16 and July 17.

Ooro, her son and an unidentified man entered the apartment building late on the night of July 16. The three took an elevator to their floor, according to the lease manager who described events from the footage. Several hours later, only the man leaves. Then, at 1:38 a.m. on July 18, a man enters using Ooro’s key fob and carrying a cart. Ten minutes later, the footage shows that man with a human-sized object in the cart, which he struggles to pull. He has to open both exit doors to get the cart through, tapping Ooro’s fob again.

“It doesn’t get used after that day,” the witness said of the fob. “That’s the last day.”

A manager at a restaurant Ooro and Sterling frequented in 2020 testified that neither of the two had ever come in without the other more than once or twice, but that they’d eat there together weekly. He identified Sterling in court.

The witness said Sterling came in alone and talked to him about a recent argument he’d had with Ooro On July 18. He said Sterling told him, “the bitch took my phone.”

“We’d never really had a conversation before, other than hi, hello, bye,” the witness said. “So I was like, what’s this about?”

The next day, the witness was approached at the restaurant by detectives who he said showed him photos of Ooro and Sterling and asked if he’d seen them. When Sterling returned later the same day, the witness recalled that he was crying, but it felt inauthentic.

When asked, the witness told defense attorney Howard McEachern that the police visit didn’t make him suspect Sterling at the time.

“I didn’t form an opinion when the officers came in and asked me about him,” the witness said. “I couldn’t have really cared less.”

The prosecution called two other witnesses, including Sterling’s neighbor and an analyst from Ooro’s cell phone company. The analyst explained Ooro’s call log from the week of July 17, 2020.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan is presiding over the trial.

The trial is scheduled to resume on Sept. 20 with continued testimony from the cell phone company analyst.

Document: Arrest Made in a Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department detectives made an arrest in a homicide that occurred on March 17, on the 4100 block of South Capitol Terrace, SW.

At approximately 8:33 p.m, officers located 20-year-old Jacky Brooks suffering from gunshot wounds.

On Sept. 20, 19-year-old River Barfield was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed.

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