Judge Holds Defendant Charged With Accessory to Murder

A DC Superior Court judge held a defendant charged with murder during presentments on Oct. 6.

Jeffery Felderis is charged with three counts of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder while armed and one count of conspiracy.

The 34-year-old defendant was indicted on Sept. 22. A notice of arraignment was then filed and a bench warrant was sent out for his arrest. He is set to be arraigned on Oct. 7.

He was eventually arrested and brought to court on Oct. 6. Judge Heide Herrmann held him at DC Jail.

A total of six domestic violence defendants were presented before Judge Herrmann. Their charges include simple assault and contempt. They were given stay away orders.

They were held and are scheduled to be released on a later date.

Crime Alerts: October 6-7

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out five crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 6 and 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 7.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:01 p.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 2500 block of Queens Chapel Road, NE. Police identified the suspects in a beige or grey sedan. One was wearing a grey hoodie and the other with unknown clothing.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:26 p.m. due to a shooting in the 400 block of 13th Street, SE. Police identified the suspect in a white Infiniti G35 sedan.

A crime alert was sent out at 12:33 a.m. due to a shooting in the 4500 block of Quarles Street, NE. Police identified the suspect in a white unknown SUV.

A crime alert was sent out at 7:06 a.m. due to an investigation in the 2400 block of Champlain Street, NW. Police identified the suspect as a Black male with curly hair with a white cloth mask and unknown colored clothing. The suspect allegedly took a blue purse.

A crime alert was sent out at 7:36 a.m. due to a robbery in the 5000 block of Ames Street, NE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male with a slim build, short dark hair, wearing a black t-shirt and dark pants.

Murder Charge Dropped for Co-Defendant in Case of 16-Year-Old’s Death

One of two cousins charged in connection with the death of a 16-year-old made a deal with prosecutors that allowed his murder charge to be dropped.

In 2018, cousins Kurt and Demonte Hewitt, ages 21 and 19, respectively, were charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of Tyshon Perry on May 1, 2018, on the 1300 block of 2nd Street, NE.

The two went on to be indicted on charges of simple assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and conspiracy.

During the Oct. 5 hearing, Kurt Hewitt pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of second-degree burglary. According to court documents, the plea deal includes an agreement between parties that an appropriate sentence in this case would be six-and-a-half to 10 years of incarceration.

The prosecution said a plea offer is still under consideration for Demonte Hewitt. It will remain open until Oct. 12.

Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled Kurt Hewitt to be sentenced on Dec. 8.

Defendant’s Murder Charge Dismissed Per Plea Deal

A man initially charged with murder pleaded pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit armed robbery after making a deal with the prosecution.

Darnell Rackett, 20, was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 36-year-old Antonio Gardiner on the 1500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, on July 4, 2020. The shooting was alleged to have occurred during the course of an attempted robbery.

During the Oct. 5 hearing, Rackett pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit armed robbery. As part of the plea deal, the prosecution dismissed the murder charge.

At the defense’s request, DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz ordered a Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) study for the defendant. If Rackett is sentenced under the YRA, his case could be effectively sealed once he completes the requirements imposed on him.

Rackett is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 21.

Document: Arrest Made in Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in relation to a homicide.

At approximately 4:26 p.m. on Sept. 26 police responded to the 5200 Block of E Street, SE, due to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police located 52-year-old Ronald Bailey inside of a residence with gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to the press release.

On Oct. 6, officers arrested 37-year-old Vernon Parrish and charged him with first-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.

Judge to Consider Modifying Protection Orders for Sex Abuse Defendants

A DC Superior Court judge agreed to consider modifying protection orders for two child sex abuse defendants.

The co-defendants, ages 49 and 64, are charged with first-degree child sex abuse. They are accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in March.

The defendants are currently on pretrial release. They cannot return to their home, however, because they have a stay away order from the alleged victim, who lives in the same apartment complex as them.

Judge Danya Dayson said she will consider changing the stay away order to a no contact order so the defendants can return home. She said she’ll decide on this by the next hearing on Jan. 14.

Case Acquitted: Judge Arraigns Murder Defendant

This case was acquitted on Dec. 16, 2022.

A DC Superior Court judge arraigned a defendant on one count of second-degree murder while armed.

Reginald Hooks is accused of stabbing 22-year-old Dy’Mani Priestley on Jan. 5, 2020, on the 1200 block of U Street, NW.

Hooks, 36, pleaded not guilty during the Oct. 6 hearing.

The prosecutor said that much of the discovery evidence has already been sent to the defense, and that they would be conducting DNA testing.

Judge Neal Kravitz ordered the defense to file motions by Oct. 27. He ordered the prosecution to file responses to those motions by Nov. 10.

A motion hearing is scheduled for Nov. 16.

Judge Denies Request to Release Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge denied a request to release a murder defendant from DC Jail.

Ch’juan Robinson, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of Louis Eugene Kingsbury, 34, on April 30, 2020, on the 200 block of New York Avenue, NW.

In a bond review motion filed in June, defense attorney Dana Page requested her client’s release based on the conditions at the DC Jail. In it, she refers to a Department of Health report on the jail from late 2020. She states that the deficiencies documented in the report that directly affect Robinson include water penetration from the walls, a “strong smoke odor” and “unsanitary culinary conditions.”

Judge Neal Kravitz, however, denied the release request during the Oct. 5 hearing.

Defense attorney Dana Page also noted that, due to how long the indictment has been pending, they may file a motion to dismiss the case.

Judge Kravitz set the next hearing for Dec. 1.

Judge Schedules Preliminary Hearing for Sex Abuse Defendant

On Oct. 5, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if a child sex abuse case has enough evidence to go to trial.

The defendant was charged with first-degree child sex abuse in a domestic violence case on Sept. 25. He is currently being held at DC Jail.

Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled a preliminary hearing for Nov. 17. The prosecution said they will extend a plea offer, which they plan to have available until Nov. 10.

Parties in Murder Case to Coordinate DNA Testing

Parties in a 2019 homicide case discussed DNA testing during an Oct. 5 hearing.

Barbara Sanders, 56, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 59-year-old Thurman Lee Knight on March 17, 2019, on the 500 block of Montana Avenue, NE. She is currently on pretrial release.

Defense attorney Matthew Davies requested permission to conduct DNA testing. The prosecution also wishes to re-test the evidence, but cannot do so until the defense has reviewed the evidence and decided which items they want to test.

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz granted the defense’s request, and parties confirmed that they would be in touch to coordinate DNA testing.

A status hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4.

Man Arraigned on Multiple Counts of Child Sex Abuse

A domestic violence defendant was arraigned on multiple counts of sexual abuse.

The defendant is charged with two counts of first-degree child sex abuse and one count of second-degree child sex abuse.

During the Oct. 5 hearing, defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman said her client had been in quarantine and did not receive medical attention for a leg injury he sustained. DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee said he would flag the issue for general counsel and put it in the docket.

The defendant is scheduled to go before a jury in June 2022. Judge Lee scheduled a motion hearing for Jun. 20.

Crime Alerts: October 5-6

The Metropoilitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 6.

A crime alert was sent out at 1:37 a.m. due to an armed robbery in the 1300 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW. Police identified the suspect as a Black male who was approximately 50 years of age with a slim build and dark complexion.

A crime alert was sent out at 5:45 a.m. due to a stabbing investigation in the 100 block of Atlantic Avenue, SE. The suspect is in custody.

Murder Defendant in COVID Quarantine

A murder defendant was unable to appear in court for his Oct. 5 hearing due to being in quarantine.

David Rhodes, 53, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 47-year-old Georgette Banks to death on May 10 on the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE.

Defense attorney Joseph Wong said he was supposed to have been out of quarantine in time to attend the hearing, but his quarantine has been extended to Oct. 15. DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 18.

Wong asked that the jail provide Rhodes with the ability to attend his next hearing remotely over video if he is still unable to be physically present in court by then.

“I will inquire but I don’t want to make any promises at this time,” Judge Lee said.

Judge Denies Motion to Compel in Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge denied a defense attorney’s motion to compel discovery evidence in a murder case.

Jereal Booker, 21, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting his girlfriend, 18-year-old Talaya Campbell, in the head on Aug. 13 on the 500 block of Irving Street, NW.

During the Oct. 4 hearing, defense attorney Jason Tulley said he is seeking audio and video footage of witness interviews. He also said some of the discovery evidence may aid him in arguing for his client’s release.

The prosecution said they have provided more than the necessary information and are not required to give the defense the recorded witness interviews. They said they are, however, willing to provide other information.

When Judge Marisa Demeo asked him why he thinks the statements would help, Tulley said it could help him and his client make a decision if a plea deal is offered.

The prosecution said it was inappropriate for the defense to ask them for the recordings before the preliminary hearing, but Tulley disagreed, saying the evidence is electronic, and therefore easily transferable.

Judge Demeo denied the defense’s motion. The preliminary hearing, which will determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial, is scheduled for Oct. 6.

Parties in Murder Case Continue Plea Negotiations

A DC Superior Court judge continued an Oct. 4 hearing for a murder case after learning that parties remain in the process of plea negotiations.

Gary Massey, 25, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 29-year-old Gregory Mayo on March 29, 2020, on the 3000 block of 7th Street, SE.

The prosecution said they would like more time to discuss plea negotiations with defense attorney Ronald Resitarits.

Judge Milton Lee set the next hearing date for Oct. 19.

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