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Judge Releases Domestic Violence Defendant from Home Confinement

A domestic violence defendant accused of trying to kill his now-former significant other was released from home confinement with GPS monitoring and a curfew.

The defendant was charged with assault with intent to kill while armed in February 2020. During his most recent hearing on May 19, a prosecutor told DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun an indictment was coming soon, and charges were already before a grand jury.

A judge ordered the defendant held at DC Jail during his initial hearing on Feb. 6, 2020. Later that month, he was released to a halfway house until March 23, 2020, when he was released into home confinement under the High Intensity Supervision Program.

On Feb. 28, 2021, the court relaxed the defendant’s release conditions so he could leave his home for work. Since then, he has been working two jobs while wearing a GPS monitor.

Defense attorney Ronald Resetarits asked Judge Okun to transfer his client from HISP into standard pretrial release with a curfew. Resetarits cited the defendant’s long history of compliance with his release conditions. He said the defendant remained employed during his time on HISP without any violations.

An attorney for the victim was present during the hearing and said the victim was still fearful of the defendant’s alleged violent behavior. They asked that he remain in home confinement.

Judge Okun said the defendant had been largely compliant with the stay away, no-contact order for the past two years. He noted one violation of the home confinement order during which the defendant stayed overnight at a new girlfriend’s home.

Judge Okun released the defendant from home confinement and instituted a curfew requirement that befitted the defendant’s two job schedules, which includes night shifts.

The defendant is scheduled to return to court for a felony status conference on Oct. 24.

Judge Releases Domestic Violence Defendant from Home Confinement

A domestic violence defendant accused of trying to kill his now-former significant other was released from home confinement with GPS monitoring and a curfew.

The defendant was charged with assault with intent to kill while armed in February 2020. During his most recent hearing on May 19, a prosecutor told DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun an indictment was coming soon, and charges were already before a grand jury.

A judge ordered the defendant held at DC Jail during his initial hearing on Feb. 6, 2020. Later that month, he was released to a halfway house until March 23, 2020, when he was released into home confinement under the High Intensity Supervision Program. 

On Feb. 28, 2021, the court relaxed the defendant’s release conditions so he could leave his home for work. Since then, he has been working two jobs while wearing a GPS monitor.

Defense attorney Ronald Resetarits asked Judge Okun to transfer his client from HISP into standard pretrial release with a curfew. Resetarits cited the defendant’s long history of compliance with his release conditions. He said the defendant remained employed during his time on HISP without any violations.

An attorney for the victim was present during the hearing and said the victim was still fearful of the defendant’s alleged violent behavior. They asked that he remain in home confinement.

Judge Okun said the defendant had been largely compliant with the stay away, no-contact order for the past two years. He noted one violation of the home confinement order during which the defendant stayed overnight at a new girlfriend’s home.

Judge Okun released the defendant from home confinement and instituted a curfew requirement that that worked with the defendant’s two job schedules, which includes night shifts.

The defendant is scheduled to return to court for a felony status conference on Oct. 24.

2022 Sexual Abuse Defendant Ages Analyzed

D.C. Witness analyzed the ages of all sexual abuse defendants at the time of their arrests in 2022 cases. This data shows no correlation between age and case, with the youngest defendant being 18 years old and the oldest defendant being 70 years old.

Homicide Arrests by Year

In 2020, more people were arrested in reference to Washington homicides than in the two years prior, according to D.C. Witness data.

Homicide Victims are Mostly Men in 2022, Data Shows

A majority of the homicide victims in 2022 were male, data shows.

Document: On-Duty Special Police Officer Killed in Southeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of an on-duty special police officer in Southeast, DC.

At approximately 12:23 a.m. on May 22, officers responded to the 2500 block of Elvans Road, SE, for the sounds of gunshots, according to a press release. There, they found 33-year-old Shawn Minor suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Document: Deadly Shooting in Southeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a deadly shooting in Southeast, DC.

At approximately 1:28 p.m. on May 20, officers responded to the intersection of Poplar Street and Oak Drive, SE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found 34-year-old Cedric Williams suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Document: 1 Killed, 2 Injured in Shooting

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a shooting that injured two men and killed another.

At approximately 9:26 p.m. on May 19, officers responded to the 1500 block of V Street, SE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found the three victims suffering from gunshot wounds. One of them, 41-year-old David Christian Spencer, Jr., was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fate of Plea Deal Uncertain for Man Charged in Shooting of 27-Year-Old Father

A DC Superior Court judge decided he needed more time to determine if he should accept a plea deal for a man convicted in the shooting of a 27-year-old father.

“I think justice is oftentimes an elusive concept,” Judge Milton Lee said.

Several members of Jamal Bandy’s family addressed the court on May 20 during the sentencing hearing. They spoke about the person Bandy was and the life he lived before he was shot to death on July 21, 2019.

“I want him to not just be a number on your case file,” Bandy’s mother told Judge Lee before thanking the prosecuting attorneys for their efforts to pursue justice for her son.

Bandy’s grandmother described him as a soft-spirited young man who “had just started getting his life together.” He recently started a job at a plumbing company and had three children with another on the way.

“When he passed, he never got a chance to see his child born,” Bandy’s father said.

The deadly shooting occurred on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE, in what prosecutors believe was a revenge-based attack. Romiel Hightower, who was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed in Bandy’s death in December 2019, was shot on that same block the year before, according to court documents. Bandy is thought to have been associated with the person suspected of having shot Hightower in 2018.

Bandy’s aunt is a retired police officer who spent 25 years with the Metropolitan Police Department. In her victim impact statement, she referenced the time she has spent with families enduring the type of loss she now has to live with, too.

“We have to stop smacking people on the wrist, and they have to realize that when you pull a trigger, there’s consequences for that,” she said.

This sentiment was echoed by Bandy’s grandmother. “I know the young man is a human being too, but he needs to realize what he did and what he took away from us…these kids today, they have to start being accountable for what they do,” she said.

Hightower, 30, accepted a plea offer for voluntary manslaughter while armed in February. As part of the deal, parties agreed to recommend a six-and-a-quarter-year prison sentence. Judge Lee asked the prosecutor why he agreed to this.

The prosecutor said much of the evidence they had was circumstantial. Witnesses either did not cooperate or did not see much since they ran when they heard the gunfire. Their primary evidence was a white vehicle seen in surveillance footage that was connected to Hightower’s girlfriend. Instagram messages from Hightower also suggested an intention to retaliate, according to court documents.

“No one is trying to value Mr. Bandy’s life at a number,” defense attorney Jason Tulley said.

Judge Lee remained unconvinced.

“I’m disappointed that I learned so much about the background today…I cannot say in good conscious at this point that six-and-a-quarter years is a correct sentence,” he said.

Judge Lee said he needs more time to decide if he will accept the plea deal. He scheduled parties to reconvene on June 21.

Domestic Violence Defendant Sentenced to Probation, Community Service Under Youth Rehabilitation Act

A domestic violence defendant was sentenced to 18 months of probation and 90 hours of community service under the Youth Rehabilitation Act.

Michael Marqele Briscoe was indicted on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, threats to kidnap or injure a person, carrying a pistol without a license and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence for brandishing a gun at his uncle during a family dispute in 2020. Briscoe pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license and a lesser charge of misdemeanor threats to do bodily harm in March. As part of his plea deal, prosecutors dismissed the two remaining charges.

DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell said he would implement a recommended intervention plan during the May 20 sentencing hearing. He imposed fully-suspended sentences of nine months for threats to do bodily harm and six months for carrying a pistol without a license. Under this sentence, Briscoe will have to serve the full 15-month term in prison if he violates his probation and has it revoked.

“I would like to say I still feel ashamed, like, what I did [sic],” Briscoe said. “I definitely do feel sorry. Me and him talked. We’re alright. Next time, I’ll walk away. I won’t even engage in that nonsense.”

Defense attorney Kevin Kassees said the victim’s mother reported Briscoe and his uncle were on good terms and moving forward from the dispute. Additionally, he said the trauma of getting shot in a previous incident served as a “wake up call” for Briscoe.

“It was after that incident – I think his uncle helped him at the time – he decided he was going to get his life turned around. He got hooked up with Life Deeds, which trains youth to make better choices, and he worked really hard,” Kassees said.

The prosecution said they had spoken with the victim and his family, and would no longer be pursuing a no-contact order. They did ask Judge Crowell to impose a no Harass, Stalk, Threaten or Assault order. Judge Crowell granted the request.

Briscoe must register as a gun offender for two years following his period of supervised release. He is also required to pay $150 to the Victims of Violent Crime compensation fund.

The prosecution said Briscoe had recently started his own LLC and wished him the best in his business endeavors.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Killing Man with Wooden Board, Assaulting Others with Bed Frame

A defendant pleaded guilty to killing a man in 2019 and assaulting two others in 2020.

Andre Dubose was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed for beating 37-year-old Ahmad Simms to death with a wooden board and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for attacking his aunt and uncle with an iron bed frame. Dubose, 32, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon during his most recent hearing on May 19.

“The defendant was not legally justified in using a wooden board to hit the decedent,” court documents read. Simms died from his injuries that same day.

In June 2020, almost one year after he was arrested and charged with murder, Dubose was released from DC Jail into home confinement under the High Intensity Supervision Program. He lived with his aunt and uncle until the following December, when he was rearrested and returned to DC Jail for assaulting them.

The victims told detectives that Dubose had appeared to be on an unknown substance. They barricaded themselves in their bedroom with the iron bed frame to keep Dubose out. Dubose eventually broke through the barricade and “forced his way into a bedroom to hit a 72-year-old man and his wife with a metal bed frame,” according to court documents read by the prosecutor during the hearing.

Simms’ sister took the opportunity to address the court in a brief statement.

“This man, Andre Debose, committed a lot of violence in our community,” she said. She asked DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan not to accept the plea offer because of the violent nature of the offenses.

“I know that there is nothing that can bring your brother back to you,” Judge Raffinan said, explaining that she would accept the plea, but the sister’s statements would contribute to her decision in sentencing.

As part of the pre-indictment plea offer, the parties agreed to recommend eight years in prison for the homicide charge and six years in prison for each of the assault charges. These will be served concurrently, meaning Dubose will be in prison for a maximum of eight years if the judge adopts the recommendation.

Dubose is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 5.

Defendant Arraigned on Murder, Weapons Charges

A murder defendant was arraigned on a four-count indictment and scheduled to go to trial.

Shaka Haltiwanger is accused of killing 39-year-old Anthony Kelly, who was found in the foyer of a Greenway neighborhood home suffering from a gunshot wound on the morning of Sept. 10, 2021.

Haltiwanger, 22, was arraigned on charges of second-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device during his most recent hearing on May 19.

Defense attorney Kevin Irving pleaded not guilty to the charges on his client’s behalf.

The prosecutor said he has turned various items of evidence over to the defense but is still waiting on more. There is not much surveillance footage in the case, and they are still waiting for DNA testing results from the Virginia-based scientific consulting firm Signature Science, he said. Body Worn Camera footage and grand jury exhibits and transcripts have been given to the defense.

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled Haltiwanger to go on trial in October. Haltiwanger will remain detained at DC Jail as he awaits his June 9 trial readiness hearing.

Document: Suspect Arrested in Green Street Homicide

A suspect has been arrested in reference to a deadly shooting in Southeast, DC.

At approximately 3:39 p.m. on May 4, officers responded to the 2300 block of Green Street, SE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found 24-year-old Davon Sullivan suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On May 17, 31-year-old Raheem Gafari was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Document: Arrest Made in 2021 Homicide

A suspect has been arrested in reference to the fatal shooting of an 18 year old in 2021.

At approximately 4:18 p.m. on Oct. 14, 2021, police responded to the 2000 block of Savannah Place, SE, due to a report of an unconscious person, according to a press release. There, they found Noel Prince Nicol suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On May 17, 21-year-old Jordan Jones was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Man Charged in Deadly Hostel Shooting Pleads Guilty to Non-Homicide Charge

The defendant charged in a deadly hostel shooting pleaded guilty to a non-homicide charge. 

Nathan Hunter, 40, and Ronald McKnight, 44, were at the DC International Hostel in the Shaw neighborhood during the early hours of April 18, 2021, when an altercation broke out between the two in a first-floor communal bathroom that ended with McKnight being shot twice in the head. Hunter later told detectives that McKnight bum-rushed him in the bathroom that night, which caused the initial altercation. 

According to the prosecution, Hunter fired warning shots with a gun later proved to belong to him. 

Although Hunter was initially charged with second-degree murder while armed in relation to the homicide, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee only found probable cause for voluntary manslaughter while armed during a preliminary hearing in March. On May 16, Hunter pleaded down to assault with a dangerous weapon, sparking anger from McKnight’s family. 

“Who brings a gun to a fistfight?” McKnight’s sister said in a victim impact statement. The sister focused her statement on what she found to be inaccuracies with the case.

While Hunter could have the right to retaliate if it is proven that McKnight started the altercation, the prosecutor alleged during the preliminary hearing that Hunter failed to abide by the duty to retreat law that exists in Washington.

“I have a lot of concerns about the amount of effort that has gone into establishing intent,” she said.

His sister said portions of the case that were not looked into, including how the events played out. 

“The defense has presented this case on my brother being this erratic person,” she said, explaining that McKnight had neurological disabilities, which caused him to act differently than a typical person. His sister said he was consistently using PCP to limit the side effects of his medications and this combination caused McKnight to appear calm and tired.

Her concerns also focused on evidence, including the six credit cards that were in McKnight’s Sierra backpack with him at the hostel. His sister had this backpack in the courtroom during her statement. 

McKnight was working two jobs and was having difficulty finding a place to live, hence him staying at the hostel. 

Hunter also said he yelled out for help amid the altercation, but McKnight’s sister disputed this.

“He yelled so loud nobody heard it,” she said. “He yelled for help multiple times, but nobody heard it.”

The two were in the bathroom for over 30 minutes, but it is not clear who had possession of the gun first, according to court documents. The prosecutor said during the preliminary hearing they could not know for sure who had the weapon first.

Multiple other family members were also at the hearing, with two cousins speaking. 

“His character was truly assassinated in this courtroom,” one of the cousins said. “There were so many facts about it that were not truly presented.”

Hunter was scheduled to go on trial for voluntary manslaughter while armed in August but decided to accept the plea offer instead. Parties have agreed to a 51-month sentence for the charge. Judge Lee will announce if he will the deal during the next hearing on July 22. In the meantime, Hunter will remain detained at DC Jail.