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Judge Releases Eight Domestic Violence Defendants in Initial Hearings

A DC Superior Court judge held one domestic violence defendant during presentments on Sept 21.

A total of 28 cases were brought before Judge Lloyd Nolan.

A domestic violence defendant charged with simple assault and contempt was held due to the charge violating his conditions of release. He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 10. 

Seven domestic violence defendants charged with simple assault were given stay away orders and are set to return to court on Dec. 14.

Crime Alerts: September 21-22

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Sept. 21 and 9:00 a.m. on Sept. 22.

A crime alert was sent out at 9:20 p.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 3300 block of 10th Place, SE. Police identified a possible vehicle related to the incident as a White Camry with dark tinted windows.

A crime alert was sent out at 1:30 a.m. due to a knife robbery at the corner of 11 and N Street, NW. Police identified the suspect as a Black male who was approximately 20-30 years old with dreadlocks on a red bike.

A crime alert was sent out at 6:19 a.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 100 block of Mississippi Avenue, SE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male wearing all black.

Document: Arrest Made in Homicide

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

At approximately 4:49 p.m. on Aug. 31, police responded to the 5000 block of 1st Street, NW, due to a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, police located 28-year-old Brittanie Clark in a residential building suffering from puncture wounds. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was later pronounced dead, according to the press release.

Police arrested 24-year-old Christian Monge on Sept. 21 and charged him with second-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.

Judge Denies Sex Abuse Defendant’s Release Request

A DC Superior Court judge denied a request to release a sex abuse defendant.

The 35-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree sexual abuse for allegedly forcing himself onto a woman while armed on March 25, 2006, in Southeast, DC. He picked up the case in April.

The defendant is a lifetime registered sex offender, according to court documents. 

Defense attorney Jason Clark requested his client’s release from DC Jail during the Sept. 21 hearing, pointing out that the alleged incident occurred 15 years ago.

Clark also brought up a car accident the defendant was in back in 2017, which caused him the loose a leg and loose function in his hands. He said his client’s medical needs, which include post-accident surgeries that were scheduled before his arrest, cannot be met by the DC Jail.

Clark also argued that his client’s medical issues make him now incapable of committing the crime he is accused of committing in 2006.

Judge Marisa Demeo denied the request without prejudice. She said that, after reading court documents, including those in other cases of his, she thinks he appears to still pose a threat to his community. She also said the defendant is still capable of putting people’s lives at risk, even despite his medical injuries.

Judge Demeo did, however, allow the defense to gather the paperwork to prove that his medical needs require release from jail.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for a status hearing on Nov. 4.

Murder Defendant Unable to Attend Hearing Due to Quarantine

A murder defendant was unable to appear in court for a preliminary hearing to determine if his case has enough evidence to go to trial due to being in quarantine at DC Jail. 

Treavon Johnson, 24, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 35-year-old John Edmonds on July 26 on the 600 block of Jefferson Street, NW.

During the Sept. 20 proceedings, defense attorney Dana Page said her client has been in quarantine for more than 14 days. The preliminary hearing was previously set to happen on Sept. 7, but that date was moved due to him being in quarantine. Page said staff at the jail told her they are not equipped to have the defendant appear remotely while in quarantine, D.C. Witness previously reported.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee rescheduled the preliminary hearing for Sept. 23.

Sex Abuse Defendant Sentenced to 15 Years

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to 15 years for first-degree sexual abuse.

Last year, Theodore Tinsley pleaded guilty to the charge for breaking into a woman’s home and sexually abusing her on the morning of Nov. 3, 2019. According to court documents, the 28-year-old defendant told detectives that he had used drugs that morning and entered the home through the rear window.

The plea deal included an agreement between parties that 15 years would be an appropriate sentence in this case. But during the Sept. 17 hearing, defense attorney Mani Golzari argued that his client’s sentence should be followed by five years of supervised release, while the prosecution wanted Tinsely to remain on supervised release for the rest of his life.

Golzari argued that five years is enough time for Tinsley to begin to build good habits and get his life back on track. The prosecution, however, argued that a lifetime of supervised release is necessary to keep the community and victim safe.

Judge Neal Kravitz decided to impose a 25-year period of supervised release. He said he wasn’t persuaded by either side, but called lifetime supervised release “excessive” and “inconsistent with outlived experiences.”

During the sentencing, Tinsley said he has thoughts and feelings he can’t control, but takes responsibility for his actions.

Judge Schedules Motion Hearing for 2016 Child Sex Abuse Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a motion hearing for a 2016 child sex abuse case

The defendant is indicted on charges of first-degree child sex abuse.

“This is quite an old case,” Judge Dayna Dayson said during the Sept. 20 hearing.

A hearing has not occurred for this case since the beginning of 2020. The defendant is on pretrial release.

Judge Dayson scheduled a status hearing for Nov. 30. She expects parties to be fully updated on multiple outstanding motions by that date in order to progress the case.

Crime Alerts: September 20-21

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out five crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Sept. 20 and 9:00 a.m. on Sept. 21.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:23 p.m. due to an armed robbery investigation in the 4300 block of E Street, SE.  Police identified the suspects as three Black males, one of which had a light complexion and medium build.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:35 p.m. due to a robbery in the 900 block of South Carolina Avenue, SE. Police identified the suspects as two Black males, one wearing a black ski mask and the other wearing a grey t-shirt.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:36 p.m. due to an armed robbery investigation in the 2700 block of Terrace Road, SE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male wearing a white t-shirt and jeans.

A crime alert was sent out at 1:16 a.m. due to an investigation in the 1800 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE. Police identified the suspects as two Black males. One was a possible shooter wearing a red and black hoodie and possibly driving a silver Acura. Information is unavailable on the second suspect. Police identified an additional vehicle in the area.

A crime alert was sent out at 2:40 a.m. due to a shooting in the 2800 block of Gainesville Street, SE. police identified the suspect as a 20-30-year-old Black male wearing all-black clothing. 

Judge Denies Motion to Release Murder Defendant

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

Malachi McFarland, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 29-year-old Kerry Odoms on April 15 on the 3300 block of 10th Place, SE. He is currently being held at DC Jail.

Defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman requested her client’s release because his cell unit has been quarantined and he has underlying health conditions that put him at a higher risk for complications if he contracts the coronavirus. 

When that motion was denied, Cadman then asked that her client be tested a few days before his upcoming preliminary hearing so he could be physically present in court or attend the hearing remotely via WebEx. That motion has not been ruled on. Judge Marisa Demeo said she will speak to the presiding judge on this matter. 

The preliminary hearing, which will determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial, is scheduled for Sept. 30. 

Hearing Continued for Murder Defendant in Quarantine

A murder defendant was unable to appear in court for a Sept. 20 status hearing because he is in quarantine at DC Jail. 

Brandon Wiggins, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Damon Bell, 43, and Donald Lewis, 25, on the 1600 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE, on June 14 2019, and the 1700 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE on Dec. 18, 2018, respectively. 

Defense attorney Lee Smith said his client will be cleared from quarantine on Sept. 28.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee rescheduled the hearing for Oct. 8. 

Defendant Pleads Guilty To Voluntary Manslaughter

A defendant pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on Sept. 17.

Steven Maye was previously indicted on one count of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances in the death of Derek Anthony Walcott. Walcott, 46, was found with multiple stab wounds on the 5100 block of B Street, SE, on Dec. 22, 2019. 

Maye, 52, pleaded down to voluntary manslaughter during the hearing.

According to court documents, the plea deal deal includes an agreement between parties that an appropriate sentence in this case would be six to 11 years of incarceration.

According to the proffer of facts, Maye got into an argument with Walcott and began stabbing him repeatedly. He then attempted to put Walcott’s body in a U-Haul truck. 

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled Maye to be sentenced on Nov. 23. In the meantime, he will remain held at DC Jail.

Murder Defendant Arraigned, Scheduled for Trial

A DC Superior Court judge arraigned a murder defendant on six counts.

Gregory Washington is charged with first-degree murder while armed, first-degree burglary while armed and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. The 31-year-old is accused of shooting 32-year-old Alie Labay on Oct. 24, 2019, on the 900 block of 21st Street, NE.

Washington rejected a plea deal that would have allowed him to plead down to second-degree murder while armed. The offer was set to expire on Sept. 20.

Judge Dayna Dayson scheduled the trial to begin on May 31, 2022. Parties expect the trial to take two weeks.

Document: Additional Reward Offered as Police Continue Search for 2 Homicide Suspects

The US Marshals Service is offering additional reward money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two 18-year-old murder suspects.

Dreun Young has been wanted for second-degree murder while armed for more than a year now. The suspect is wanted in connection with a homicide that occurred on Aug. 6, 2020.

At about 5:47 p.m. that day, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the 600 block of 46th Place, SE, due to sounds of gunshots, according to a press release. There, they found 26-year-old Michael Brittingham suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene. A juvenile male also walked into a local hospital with a gunshot wound and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The MPD offers up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of anyone in DC responsible for a homicide. The US Marshals Service has offered an additional $15,000 in this case, bringing the total amount to $40,000.

The US Marshals Service have also offered an additional $10,000 in reward money in connection with the investigation into 21 year-old Demetris Johnson‘s death.

Nyjell Outler is wanted for second-degree murder while armed in connection with Johnson’s death on March 20.

At around 7:40 p.m. that day, officers responded to the unit block of Madison Street, NE, due to a the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Johnson was pronounced dead on scene.

Document: Three Fatally Shot on September 18

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating two homicides that occurred on Sept. 18.

At approximately 9:20 p.m. police responded to the 1300 block of Nicholson Street, NW, due to a report of a shooting victim. Officers located 17-year-old Brian Villataro with gunshot wounds and pronounced him dead on scene, according to the press release.

At approximately 11:36 p.m. police responded to the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE, due to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. After taking him to a local hospital, they located a second victim already at the hospital, according to the press release.

The victims have been identified as 31-year-old Michael Pate and 28-year-old Djuan Proctor, according to the press release.

Murder Case Set for Trial

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a murder case to go before a jury in July 2022.

Diantre Smith is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting of 28-year-old Nyesha Galloway on Dec. 20, 2019, on the 400 block of 42nd Street, NE. 

During the Sept. 20 hearing, defense attorney Madalyn Harvey asked Judge Juliet McKenna to set the case for trial. Judge McKenna scheduled the trial to begin on July 20, 2022.

Smith, 45, has yet to be indicted. Judge McKenna also scheduled a felony arraignment for Jan. 14, 2022.

In the meantime, Smith will remain held at DC Jail. Harvey motioned for his release earlier this year, but the motion was denied.