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.

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.

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