Judge Sentences Homicide Defendant to Serve 8.5 Years

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to serve eight-and-a-half years for stabbing a man at a metro stop.

Anthony Williams, 20, was fatally stabbed on Jan. 26, 2020, at the Union Station metro stop. Last June, 25-year-old Angel Moses pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with his death.

Judge Yvonne Williams sentenced the defendant to ten years, 18 months of which were suspended, followed by five years of supervised probation.

Members of Williams’ family spoke during the Oct. 15 hearing. William’s cousin said the defendant has slandered the victim’s name and has no remorse for her actions. His sister said Moses will “always have a darkness in [her]”.

Moses also made a brief statement, saying she feels grief and remorse for her actions.

The prosecution said that Moses attacked Williams because of a drug dispute but later refuted her statement. Moses later said she was threatened by the decedent because he was a “big man” and she is a woman.

Judge Williams said she understood why, as a woman living on the streets, Moses would carry a knife, but pointed out that she initially approached the victim.

As part of her probation, Moses is required to receive a mental health screening and maintain or seek employment. She must also partake in drug testing and receive drug and mental health treatment as deemed necessary by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency.

Defense Requests Additional Discovery in Murder Case

The defense counsel in a murder case is requesting additional discovery before deciding whether to move to trial.

Demetrious Void, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 24-year-old Anthony Lawson on the 6200 block of Eastern Avenue, NE, on Sept. 25, 2018.

The defendant is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon while armed, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, armed carjacking and unlawful possession of a firearm in this case.

Judge Danya Dayson offered parties an opportunity to set a trial date, but defense attorneys Matthew Davies and Will Alley said they are waiting for additional discovery materials from the prosecution before deciding whether to accept a plea agreement or move to trial.

Jude Dayson set another status hearing is set for Nov. 9.

Child Sex Abuse Defendant Retains Private Counsel

A defendant charged with first-degree child sex abuse retained private counsel during a hearing.

According to court documents, the 36-year-old defendant is accused of sexually abusing a young girl, to whom he is related by marriage, for multiple years beginning when she was in the 7th grade.

During the Oct. 15 hearing, Dominique Winters, a public defender, withdrew from the case. The defendant is now being represented by Samuel Adewusi, a private attorney.

Judge Danya Dayson also agreed to relax the defendant’s pretrial release conditions, removing him from the High Intensity Supervision Program. The defendant must also continue to abide by the conditions of his protective order.

Judge Dayson set another hearing for Feb. 4.

Crime Alerts: October 17-18

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 17 and 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 18.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:27 p.m. due to a stabbing in the Unit block of Longfellow Street, NW. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

Document: October 16 Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating an Oct. 16 homicide.

At approximately 9:43 p.m. officers responded to the 400 block of 12^th Street, SE, due to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police located 27-year-old Devante Waters with gunshot wounds and transported him to a local hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.

Second DC Superior Court Murder Trial of 2021 to Begin

The second murder trial at the DC Superior Court since the suspension of trials due to the COVID-19 pandemic ended is set to begin next week.

Robert Dean, 63, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 38-year-old Tamiya White with a screwdriver on the 1000 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE, on March 31, 2018.

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to White’s home twice on March 18, 2018. Both times, White complained that she was trying to end a six-month relationship with Dean.

According to court documents, a witness said that, approximately one hour before the homicide, they received a text from Dean that read, “I feel that I am about to go to jail.” The witness said they later called Dean, who said he was angry with White for using his entire social security check-in two days and kicking him out of her apartment.

At approximately 4:58 p.m. on March 31, 2018, White drove from her apartment on the 1000 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE, to a McDonalds approximately one minute away. She walked into the building and requested assistance while holding onto her neck, which was “uncontrollably bleeding,” according to court documents.

Six minutes later, officers arrived. Less than half an hour later, she succumbed to her injuries.

Unaware of White’s injuries, the witness picked up Dean near White’s apartment. While in the vehicle, Dean told the witness that White hit him during an argument. He allegedly said he responded by, “stabbing the decedent up to thirty times with a screwdriver.”

According to court documents, the doctor who performed the autopsy determined that White had two puncture wounds: one penetrating the left side of her neck and another penetrating the left side of her chest.

Dean was arrested on April 5, 2018, and charged with first-degree murder while armed, premediated. He was offered a plea deal later that year but it was rejected.

He previously had a trial scheduled for early 2020, but it was postponed.

Jury selection for Dean’s trial is now set to begin on Oct. 18. The prosecution expects to have five expert witnesses and four to six law enforcement witnesses.

Parties expect the trial to last two weeks.

Man Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter

A defendant pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal shooting from earlier this year.

NeQuan Carthens, who is also known as MeQuan Carthens, was initially charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of Lagioria Brinkley on the 1900 block of 16th Street, SE, on March 20. Brinkley, 37, died of a gunshot wound to the head, D.C. Witness previously reported.

During the Oct. 15 hearing, the 20-year-old defendant pleaded down to voluntary manslaughter.

According to court documents, Carthens’ plea deal includes an agreement between parties on a recommended sentence of ten years of incarceration followed by five years of supervised release.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson scheduled Carthens to be sentenced on Jan. 7.

Parties in Murder Case Debate Protective Order

A DC Superior Court judge ordered parties in a murder case to resolve their disagreements over a protective order on Oct. 14.

Tony McClam is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 11-year-old Karon Brown on July 18, 2019, on the 2700 block of Naylor Road, SE. McClam, 31, is also charged with possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.

Parties have been unable to come to an agreement over a protective order issued for Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage from a police officer. The protective order prohibits the footage from being shown to witnesses. The defense has argued that this infringes on McClam’s Sixth Amendment rights to participate in his defense and have effective counsel.

“The government has routinely, by the way of form, stock motions, requested, and been granted, overly restrictive and unconstitutional protective orders in D.C. Superior Court,” co-counsel Aubrey Dillon stated in a defense motion to vacate the protective order governing BWC materials. “The fact of the matter is that protective orders are not and should not be the norm.”

“I can’t believe that you can’t work this out,” said Judge Neal Kravitz. But the prosecution said it is unlikely they will be able to come to an agreement.

“I don’t have a feeling that you have exhausted your efforts to work this out… I’m going to ask that you talk to each other,” Judge Kravitz said.

McClam is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 5. His trial is set to begin on Nov. 29.

Judge Denies Request to Release Sex Abuse Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee denied an oral motion to release a sex abuse defendant from DC Jail on Oct. 14.

The defendant is charged with third-degree sex abuse, assault with intent to commit any other offense, simple assault and misdemeanor sex abuse. On Aug. 7, the defendant allegedly attempted to sexually assault two women on the 1700 Block of Newton Street, NW.

The prosecution said they will extend a pre-indictment plea offer.

Judge Lee scheduled the defendant to return to court on Oct. 20.

Judge Holds Three Homicide Defendants During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge held three homicide defendants during presentments on Oct. 14.

A total of 35 defendants were brought before Judge Heidi Herrmann.

Kamar Queen, 24, and Erwin Duboise, 27, are both charged with first-degree murder in connection with a mass shooting that injured three and killed three others.

At approximately 7:33 p.m., police responded to the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW, according to a Metropolitan Police Department press release. On arrival, found found multiple gunshot victims. Three victims were pronounced dead on scene. Three other victims were transported to hospitals with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

The three deceased victims were identified as 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 34-year-old Keenan Braxton and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner.

Judge Herrmann held both defendants and scheduled them to return to court on Oct. 25.

Marcha Johnson is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 20-year-old Rufus Davis on the Unit Block of O Street, NW, on Oct. 6.

Johnson, 43, was held and is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 26.

Three domestic violence defendants were also brought before Judge Herrmann. Their charges include simple assault and attempted threats to od bodily harm. All three were released and scheduled to return to court on Jan 6.

Crime Alerts: October 14-15

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 14 and 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 15.

A crime alert was sent out at 2:33 a.m. due to a robbery investigation in the 500 block of D Street, NE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male with a medium build, dark clothing and wearing a white mask.

Document: October 14 Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating an Oct. 14 homicide.

At approximately 4:18 p.m. police responded to the 2000 block of Savannah Place, SE, due to a report of an unconscious person. Upon arrival, police located 18-year-old Noel Prince Nicol and pronounced them dead on scene, according to the press release.

DC Sees Decrease in Homicides in September

Eighteen homicides occurred in DC during the month of September, with the youngest victim being 17 years old.

The teenager, Brian Villataro, was among three killed on the deadliest day in regards to homicides in DC in September.

At approximately 9:20 p.m. on Sept. 18, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the 1300 block of Nicholson Street, NW, due to a report of a shooting victim, according to a press release. There, officers found Villataro suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Two others were killed that day in a separate incident on the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE. Upon arriving on scene, 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 another press release.

The victims have been identified as 31-year-old Michale Pate and 28-year-old Djuan Proctor.

No arrests have been made in relation to these homicides, according to D.C. Witness data.

September is the first month in 2021 to have all homicides result from shootings. Approximately 142 out of 175, or 82% of homicides in D.C. in 2021 were shootings, according to D.C. Witness data.

September saw a 10 percent decrease in homicides with 18 compared to 23 in August. Despite this, Ward 4 saw an increase in homicides, with one in August and six in September. All other wards saw a decrease in homicides.

Document: Arrest Made in Mass Shooting

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in relation to a Sept. 4 mass shooting that killed three people.

At approximately 7:33 p.m. police responded to the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW. On arrival, MPD found multiple gunshot victims. According to the press release, three victims were found dead on arrival, and three other victims were transported to hospitals with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

The three deceased victims were identified as Donnetta Dyson, 31, Keenan Braxton, 24, and Johnny Joyner, 37, according to the press release.

On Oct. 13, officers arrested 27-year-old Erwin Dubose, Jr., and 24-year-old Kamar Queen. They were charged with first-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.

The case is still under active investigation. According to the press release, MPD currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 per victim for information leading to an arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for a homicide in D.C.

Judge Sets Preliminary Hearing for Defendants Charged in Child’s Death

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if the case against a couple accused of causing their child’s death has enough evidence to go to trial.

Co-defendants Antonio Turner, 29, and Ta’jenna Eason, 32, are charged with first-degree cruelty to children and felony murder in connection with the death of their two-year-old son, Gabriel Eason, on April 1, 2020.

Both defendants are released. During the Oct. 13 hearing, Judge Milton Lee continued the stay away order that prevents the two from interacting with minors.

Judge Lee scheduled the preliminary hearing for Nov. 22.

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