Judge Holds Murder Defendant During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge held one murder defendant during presentments on Sept. 23.

A total of 31 defendants were brought before Judge Lloyd Nolan.

Eric Davis, 58, was charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 41-year-old Theadore Dewayne Riley, Jr. on the 1600 block of Gales Street, NE, on July 19.

Judge Nolan held him due to his criminal past and the severity of the charge. The prosecution said he was previously convicted of murder in 1996 and completed incarceration in 2019.

Davis is scheduled to return to court for a felony status conference on Oct. 6.

A domestic violence defendant who was charged with simple assault returned to court on a bench warrant. He was released and scheduled to return to court on Oct. 20.

Crime Alerts: September 23-24

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out -3 crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Sept. 23 and 9:00 a.m. on Sept. 24.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:44 p.m. due to a robbery investigation in the 4300 block of Wisconsin Avenue, NW. Police identified the suspect as a White male wearing all black and armed with a small handgun. The suspect was last seen operating a gray SUV.

A crime alert was sent at 11:45 p.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 1600 block of Good Hope Road, SE. Police identified a black Malibu vehicle with heavily tinted windows as their suspect.

A crime alert was sent out at 1:29 a.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 1400 block of Holbrook Street, NE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male wearing a grey jacket and black jeans.

Judge Changes Domestic Violence Defendant’s Release Conditions

A DC Superior Court judge changed the release conditions of a domestic violence defendant charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

Defense attorney Winston Yallery-Arthur asked Judge Yvonne Williams to take her client off GPS monitoring because she works at a tourist attraction in Baltimore, and her GPS confines her to an office, so she is not able to take on more hours.

The prosecution opposed this request, saying one of the alleged victims sent them a letter stating they want the defendant’s GPS to stay on.

Judge Williams received a letter from a Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) officer saying that the defendant should keep the GPS with no curfew restrictions.

Judge Williams allowed the GPS to be removed and took the defendant off of the High Intensity Supervision Program.

The prosecution said they will extend a plea offer, in which the defendant showed interest during the Sept. 22 hearing. Judge Williams set a status hearing for Nov. 4.

Defense Requests More Time To Review Plea Offer

The defense attorney for a man accused of killing a 15-year-old boy requested more time to go over a plea offer.

Javon Gunter, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 15-year-old Thomas Johnson on Oct. 9, 2019, on the 1300 block of Half Street, SW.

Defense attorney Ronald Resetarits said that he wanted to set another status hearing and wants to make a counter-offer to the government’s plea offer.

The prosecution said if the defense rejects the plea deal, they will move forward with indicting Gunter.

DC Superior Court Judge Dayna Dayson set a felony status conference for Nov. 5.

Domestic Violence Defendant Pleads Guilty To Beating Relative

A domestic violence defendant pleaded guilty for causing serious injuries to a member of his family.

During the Sept. 22 hearing, Carlton Young plead guilty to assault with significant bodily injury.

According to the proffer of facts, In April, Carlton believed the victim stole money from him, so he threw her against the wall, causing a serious head injury. He punched her repeatedly on her chest and body, then stomped on her with his work boot.

As the defendant was wiping the victim’s blood from the wall, she ran out of his apartment and asked neighbors for help. She was rushed to the emergency room to treat her head injury.

His daughter attended the hearing virtually and said she would like to speak at the sentencing hearing.

The prosecution recommended is recommending a 30 month sentence, with credit for time served. The plea deal also includes one year of probation.

Defense attorney Stephen Logerfo said his client wants to plead guilty because he wants to take responsibility for his actions and because he has community support.

Logerfo asked Judge Yvonne Williams if the defendant can be released because he needs to sort out arrangements with his apartment. Judge Williams allowed him to be released into the High Intensity Supervision Program temporarily, then returned to DC Jail.

Judge Williams set a sentencing date for Nov. 30.

Defendant Accused of Stabbing Woman Found Incompetent to Stand Trial

A DC Superior Court judge found a murder defendant mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Eliyas Aregahedne, 26, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 27-year-old Margery Magill while she was walking a dog on the 400 block of Irving Street, NW, on Aug. 27, 2019.

A report from the Department of Behavioral Health found Aregahedne incompetent to stand trial and recommended a full evaluation and treatment for him.

Judge Marisa Demeo transferred Aregahedne to St. Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, for treatment. She also ordered a full competency examination.

Parties will reconvene on Oct. 22 for another mental observation hearing.

Judge Renews Domestic Violence Defendant’s Bench Warrant During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge renewed a bench warrant for a domestic violence defendant on probation during presentments on Sept. 22.

A total of 21 defendants were brought before Judge Maribeth Raffinan.

The defendant was put on probation for simple assault and unlawful entry in October 2020. He allegedly violated his probation the following February, which is why the bench warrant was issued.

Judge Raffinan renewed the bench warrant.

Four other domestic violence defendants were brought before Judge Raffinan charged with simple assault. They were released with stay away orders and scheduled to return to court on Dec. 15

Document: Arrest Made In Homicide Investigation

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

At approximately 7:42 p.m. on July 19 police responded to the 1600 block of Gales Street, NE, due to sounds of gunshots. Officer located 41-year-old Theodore Dewayne Riley, Jr with gunshot wounds and pronounced him dead on scene. On Sept. 22, officers arrested 58-year-old Eric Davis and charged him with first-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.

Judge Schedules Domestic Violence Case for Trial

A domestic violence defendant, who was not present for his Sept. 22 hearing due to being in quarantine, was scheduled to go before a jury next June.

The defendant is charged with first-degree and second-degree child sex abuse of a victim less than 12-years-old.

The defendant is in quarantine with his unit at the DC Jail until Oct. 1.

Defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman asked Judge Milton Lee to arraign her client once he is out of quarantine, and to set a trial date in his absence.

Judge Lee set aside June 17 through July 1, 2022, for the trial.

The prosecution, who requested a motion hearing to resolve any outstanding motions two weeks before the trial, said the outstanding plea offer will probably be rejected.

The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 5.

Parties in Murder Case Prepare for Trial

A DC Superior Court judge set deadlines for motions in a murder case set to go to trial in October 2022.

Larry Brown, 34, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a prohibited weapon, and carrying a dangerous weapon in the death of 33-year-old Derrick Wright, who was stabbed multiple times on March 24, 2018, on the 1300 block of Florida Avenue, NE.

During the Sept. 22 trial readiness hearing, Judge Neal Kravitz ordered parties to file any additional motions by Oct. 28. The defense has until this date to respond to motions previously filed by the prosecution. Motions filed by Oct. 28 must also be responded to within 30 days.

Brown has previously rejected a plea deal, the prosecution said.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for another trial readiness hearing on Oct. 15.

Former Charter School Teacher Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Teenager

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a former charter school teacher for sexually abusing a teenager.

Joan Meyer, 46, pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse of a minor for abusing a 14-year-old boy, beginning in 2009.

During the Sept. 22 hearing, Judge Marisa Demeo sentenced Meyer to five years of incarceration, all but six months of which were suspended, followed by 18 months of supervised probation.

Meyer must also register as a sex offender for 10 years, stay away from the victim and undergo a mental health and sex offender treatment and evaluation, as deemed necessary.

During the Sept. 22 sentencing, defense attorney Jay Mykytiuk did not object to the conditions set by the prosecution.

“To be honest,” he said, “I don’t disagree with anything [the prosecution] has posed…and Ms. Meyer doesn’t disagree either.”

“I understand now the impact of my actions and I am deeply remorseful,” Meyer said.

Meyers met the victim when she was an employee of Two Rivers Charter School and he was a 12-year-old student.

The victim did not appear in court but submitted a written victim impact statement. The prosecution called him “one of the smartest, most thoughtful, kind people I have ever met.”

Judge Demeo made provisions in the sentencing to allow Meyer to return to Ohio after she finishes serving her sentence.

Before reading the sentence, Judge Demeo said the court was “struck” by the powerful nature of the victim impact statement.

“He was just a child,” Judge Demeo said, “and so excited to start anew at a new school after a difficult childhood.”

Judge Sentences Repeat Sex Offender to Serve 2 Years in Prison

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a sex abuse defendant to serve two years in prison.

Christopher Sanders, pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual abuse for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl.

During the Sept. 21 hearing, Judge Milton Lee sentenced the defendant to three years, one of which was suspended, plus 30 months of supervised probation.

Sanders, 43, is already a registered sex offender. This is his fifth sexual abuse conviction, Judge Lee said. He ordered the defender to register as a sex offender for life. He is also ordered to stay away from the victim.

The victim said Sanders entered her home on a day she was not in school and sexually assaulted her, according to court documents.

As part of his probation, Sanders is required to partake in a mental health evaluation and treatment, drug testing and sex offender treatment.

Document: On-Duty Special Police Officer Killed

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Sept. 21.

At approximately 8:42 p.m. police responded to the 3300 block of 10th Place, SE, due to sounds of gunshots. Police located 41-year-old Angela Washington and pronounced her dead on scene, according to the press release.

According to the press release, “at the time of the offense, the victim was in uniform and working as an on-duty Special Police Officer.”

Judge Finds Probable Cause for Murder Defendant Accused of Killing Girlfriend

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that the case against a man accused of shooting his girlfriend has enough evidence to go to trial.

Idrissa Fall, 34, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the death of 29-year-old Dara Northern on July 18 on the 6100 block of 4th Street, NW.

During the Sept. 21 preliminary hearing, the lead Metropolitan Police Department detective on the case testified that Northern was shot in the right eye while sitting in a vehicle outside of her home with a friend.

In a 911 call played during the hearing, the friend can be heard saying, “it’s her boyfriend, he shot her through my window,” between pleas for help.

Defense attorney Ronald Resetarits asked Judge Danya Dayson to release his client with the strictest possible conditions. But Judge Dayson said, “there are no conditions or combination of conditions that will ensure the safety of the community.”

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for Dec. 10.

Judge Denies Request to Release Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge denied a request to release a murder defendant into home confinement.

Knico Wheaton is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Tavon Cox on Jan. 11, 2020, on the 700 block of 24th Street, SE.

Wheaton is also charged with obstruction of justice, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and robbery while armed in this case.

During the Sept. 21 hearing, Judge Milton Lee denied defense attorney David Ritcher’s request to release his client, who he pointed out has been held at DC Jail for more than a year now. Judge Lee cited the 24-year-old defendant’s criminal record and the probable cause finding made earlier in the case.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Nov. 22 for a status hearing.

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