Judge Releases All Domestic Violence Defendants During Initial Hearings

On June 12, 26 defendants were brought before DC Superior Court Judge Jose Lopez for initial hearings.

Five domestic violence defendants are charged with simple assault. Four of them were released on their promise to return to court and given stay away orders from the alleged victims.

Judge Lopez released one final domestic violence defendant into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) but only for GPS monitoring because he is not eligible for standard HISP. The defendant was also given stay away orders.

The defendants’ next hearings are scheduled for Dec. 17.

Co-Defendants Charged in 2018 Drive-By Shooting Get Earlier Trial Dates

On June 14, a DC Superior Court judge moved up the trial dates for four co-defendants charged in connection with a 2018 drive-by shooting that killed a 10-year-old girl.

Co-defendants Isaiah Murchison, 21, Antonio Murchison, 28, Marquell Cobbs, 20, and Darrise Jeffers, 21, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson on July 16, 2018, on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE. The drive-by shooting is alleged to have been the result of a neighborhood rivalry.

The four are also facing charges of conspiracy, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed and criminal street gang affiliation.

The four were scheduled to go before a jury in January 2023, but during the June 14 hearing, Judge Danya Dayson rescheduled the trial to start in October 2022. D.C. Witness does not know the exact dates Judge Dayson set aside.

The prosecution estimates that the trial would last six to eight weeks.

Cobbs is on pretrial release under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). His defense attorney, Kevin McCants, asked Judge Dayson to amend his client’s stay away order, which prohibited him from entering DC, so he could look for employment. Judge Dayson agreed to the request.

Judge Dayson scheduled the co-defendants’ next status hearing for Sept. 15.

Qujuan Thomas, 22, Quentin Michals, 24, Gregory Taylor, 26, Mark Price, 27, Quincy Garvin, 21, and Saquan Williams, 19, are also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with Wilson’s death. Their trial is scheduled to take place from May 2 to July 1, 2022.

Quanisha Ramsuer, 27, is also charged with obstructing justice in connection with this homicide. Her next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

Carlin Fisher, Mara Osterburg, Lizzie Brennan and Mykala Jones wrote this article.

Attorney Requests More Time to Speak with Murder Defendant About Plea Offer

On June 14, a DC Superior Court judge continued a murder case after the defense attorney asked for more time to discuss a plea offer with her client.

Vaugh Kosh is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 38-year-old Alayna Howard on Dec. 7, 2019, on the 1700 block of Capitol Avenue, NE.

Defense attorney Elizabeth Weller said the prosecution has offered a plea deal, but she has not been able to get in touch with her client, who is being held at DC Jail, in order to talk about it with him.

Judge Juliet Mckenna scheduled a status hearing for July 8.

Kosh, 49, is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, first-degree burglary while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and assault with intent to kill while armed in this case.

Amaya Smith wrote this article.

Judge Finds Defendant Mentally Incompetent to be Sentenced

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a defendant convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, accessory to second-degree murder and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence cannot be sentenced because he is incompetent.

Joshua Massaquoi was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting of 21-year-old Michael Francis Taylor on June 22, 2008, on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW. He pleaded down to his current charges in March 2020.

Massaquoi, 33, was awaiting sentencing in home confinement until March 2021, when a bench warrant was issued for his arrest and he was taken to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, where he is currently being held.

During the June 14 hearing, Judge Marisa Demeo ruled that Massaquoi is mentally incompetent to proceed to sentencing after reading a report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH). However, the judge also said there is a “substantial probability” that he will become competent in the near future.

She ordered that he continue receiving mental health treatment.

Judge Demeo scheduled another mental observation hearing for July 19.

A jury found Mason Binion, 34, guilty of first-degree murder while armed in connection with Taylor’s death in February 2020. He is currently waiting to be sentenced. Victor Carvajal, 34, was also charged with first-degree murder while armed, but his case was later dismissed.

Lizzie Brennan wrote this article.

Judge Sentences Homicide Defendant to Serve More than 8.5 Years

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to serve slightly over eight-and-a-half years for voluntary manslaughter while armed.

Xavier Culbreth was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed for stabbing 40-year-old Jamal Ferrell seven times at the Potomac Avenue Metro station on the 700 block of 14th Street, SE, on April 28, 2019.

Culbreth, 21, pleaded down to voluntary manslaughter while armed in April.

“I wish it never would have happened,” Culbreth said during the June 14 hearing, “I think about it every day.”

Judge Milton Lee sentenced Culbreth to 10 years in prison. He suspended 16 months of the sentence, leaving him with 104 months to serve.

The prosecution, however, did not want any of the 10 years to be suspended.

“This is a significant sentence for a significant crime,” the prosecutor said.

Culbreth’s prison time will be followed by 40 months of supervised probation.

Judge Lee sentenced the defendant under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which will effectively seal his case after he completes the requirements imposed on him.

Conditions of Culbreth’s probation include participating in an educational program and receiving a mental health screening and anger management counseling, drug testing and treatment and vocational training. He must also complete 100 hours of community service.

In a victim impact statement read by the prosecution, Ferrell’s family stated, “We, the family, miss Jamal so much. Words cannot fill the void that we have.”

Jada Smith, 20, was also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with Ferrell’s death. However, a judge said that while she was at the scene and allegedly stole the victim’s wallet, she did not have direct involvement with the murder, D.C. Witness previously reported.

She went on to be sentenced to 90 days, all of which were suspended, plus one year of supervised probation under the YRA in April.

Mara Osterburg wrote this article.

Document: Arrest Made in Traffic Fatality

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have arrested a suspect in connection with a traffic fatality involving a single pedestrian and vehicle on June 13.

At about 3:14 a.m. a Honda Civic hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk. The identity of the victim is being withed until the next of kin is notified.

Police arrested 29-year-old Gerald Lewis and charged him with second-degree murder, driving under the influence and reckless driving.

Tory Lysik wrote this article.

Document: Police Investigate Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred in the afternoon on June 11.

At approximately 1:09 p.m. police responded to the 1600 block of Franklin Street, NE due to reports of gunshots. Police found 30-year-old Isaac Aull Jr. and pronounced him dead from gunshot-related injuries.

Tory Lysik wrote this article.

Document: Police Investigate Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on June 11.

At about 1:39 p.m. police responded to the 4600 block of Hillside Road, SE due to reports of gunshots. Upon arrival, police found two adult males with gunshot wounds. One was treated for non-life-threatening injuries while the other, 28-year-old Delonte Johnson, was pronounced dead.

Tory Lysik wrote this article.

Crime Alerts: June 13-14

The Metropolitan Police Department sent out one crime alert between 7:00 p.m. on June 13 and 9:00 a.m. on June 14.

The alert was sent at 7:10 p.m. for a stabbing investigation on the 600 block of Kenilworth Terrace, NE.

Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

Judge Holds Five Domestic Violence Defendants During Initial Hearings

On June 11, DC Superior Court Judge Shelly Mulkey held five of eight domestic violence defendants during initial hearings.

There were 20 total defendants presented before the court.

A defendant who has been in the hospital over the last few days is charged with simple assault and contempt. Defense counsel requested the judge to not find probable cause because she spoke to the complaining witness prior to the hearing, who recanted everything she said to the police.

In fact, she even allegedly admitted to stabbing the defendant in May, which is why the defendant has recently been in the hospital. She was reportedly arrested for the incident, but the defendant declined to press charges.

In the case against the defendant, he allegedly punched her in the face, broke her glasses and bit her, but the victim now says that he did none of those things. In fact, she said the bite mark is a very old wound from her small child.

Judge Mulkey did find probable cause, however, and decided to hold the defendant because he has three additional pending cases against him that involve the same complaining witness.

A defendant charged with simple assault, destruction of property and obstruction of justice was also held. They were also brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear at their probation hearing in another domestic violence case.

Judge Mulkey said she thinks the defendant may flee given his history of bench warrants and a violation of the Bail Reform Act (BRA) conviction from 2019, so he chose to hold him at the jail.

A defendant charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm and contempt was also held. The defendant has a pending case involving the same complaining witness, and allegedly said, “If I get arrested, once I get out, I’m gonna kill you all.” In his new case, he also allegedly threatened to kill the complainant and violated a stay-away order. Given these circumstances, the judge decided to hold him pending his next hearing.

Finally, Judge Mulkey held two defendants who were brought in on bench warrants for failing to appear at their hearings. Both defendants were allegedly out of compliance with release conditions, so the judge held them to be seen by the presiding judges.

The three defendants released have charges of simple assault, destruction of property and second-degree cruelty to children. Two of the defendants were given stay-away orders, and the final one was ordered not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) a child and to not physically discipline any children at all.

The released defendants will return to court in December while the held defendants will be returning to court in June.

Parties Await Judge’s Decision on Defense Motion to Suppress Evidence in Homicide Case

After hearing arguments on a defense motion to suppress evidence obtained during an investigation into a 2016 homicide, a DC Superior Court judge decided he would wait to make a ruling.

Clinton Womack, 31, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 45-year-old Terry Crutchfield on the 1500 block of Olive Street, NE, on Dec. 6, 2016.

Defense attorney Steven Kiersch is arguing that a search of Womack’s phone violated his Fourth Amendment rights.

A little over three weeks after the homicide, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives executed a search warrant on a 1993 burgundy Lexus as part of their investigation, according to court documents. Detectives found an automatic handgun, an extended magazine and Womack’s phone in the car. Detectives then got another warrant to search the phone and, according to parties, found internet searches that the prosecution now wants to use against Womack.

Kiersch filed the motion to suppress the evidence found on the phone in April.

In it, he states that “the warrant to search the digital contents of the cellphone was far too overbroad, was lacking in specificity and failed to establish in any manner the specific information that was being sought.”

However, during the June 11 hearing, the prosecution compared a phone to a personal journal, arguing that, if the government wants to search a journal, the warrant does not need to be as specific in what it is trying to find.

Judge Milton Lee did not make a decision on the motion but said he will rule on it and give his ruling to parties as soon as possible.

Womack has been held at DC Jail since December 2016. They were scheduled to go to trial once in 2018, twice in 2019 and once again in 2020, D.C. Witness previously reported. He is currently scheduled to go before a jury in 2023.

Womack is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, first-degree armed burglary, attempted armed robbery, armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in this case.

Womack’s next hearing is scheduled for June 22.

Tory Lysik wrote this article.

Judge Holds Sex Abuse Defendant and Three Domestic Violence Defendants During Presentments

DC Superior Court Judge Sean Staples held a sexual abuse defendant and three out of seven domestic violence defendants at presentments on June 10. Thirty-five defendants were presented in total.

One domestic violence defendant was held without bond for attempted second-degree cruelty to children. The judge called the nature of the case “quite disturbing” and cited the specifics of the case as reasoning for the hold. The court also cited the defendant having other open domestic abuse cases currently open.

A domestic violence defendant was held due to previous case records. The current victim is the same victim as a pending case, raising concern that they may violate stay-away orders of release.

The defendant is accused of texting the victim, “Hi boo, you looked good coming out on your balcony,” along with the simple assault and contempt charges for allegedly violating a current stay-away order. The defendant had also allegedly strangled the victim in a previous case, according to Judge Staples.

Another domestic violence defendant was held because he has three convictions all involving the same complaining witness. In his new case, he is charged with second-degree theft, destruction of property and contempt for allegedly violating his stay-away order.

These held defendants are scheduled to appear in court on June 29.

The final defendant held was brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear at his hearing in a pending case for which he is charged with first-degree child sex abuse. He is also being charged with felony contempt in a new case. Judge Staples said he believes the defendant to be a risk of flight, so he will be held until his next hearing, scheduled for July 9.

A domestic violence defendant was released due to COVID-19 related conditions. The defendant has a prior domestic violence case with the same person, and is charged with violating a Temporary Protection Order (TPO) and contempt. He was given a stay-away order which mirrors his current order in the pending case.

One of the last defendants of the day appeared over the phone due to wheelchair issues. They are charged with attempted threats, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon and simple assault. The defendant was given a stay-away order.

The final released defendant is charged with simple assault and was given a stay-away order from the complaining witness and location of the alleged incident.

The released defendants are scheduled to return to court in December.

One domestic violence defendant is in the hospital and will appear in presentments once released.

Defense Asks Judge to Hold Off on Setting Trial Dates for Murder Case

The defense attorney in a murder case asked a DC Superior Court judge to hold off on scheduling trial dates so he can have more time to prepare a defense and discuss a potential plea deal with his client.

Kavonte Richardson is charged with felony murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit robbery in connection with the stabbing of 26-year-old Matthew Scott Rooker on the 600 block of 7th Street, NW, on May 23, 2018. The 26-year-old defendant is also charged with armed robbery and carrying a dangerous weapon in his case.

During the June 11 hearing, defense attorney Mani Golzari said he does not know if his client will take the plea deal the prosecution offered him. If Kavonte does not take the plea deal, Golzari said he will need more time to prepare a defense.

Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled a status hearing for July 16.

AsiaDee Williams wrote this article.

Document: Suspect Wanted in Connection with Homicide Apprehended

A suspect was apprehended in connection to a homicide that took place on May 11.

At about 3:51 a.m., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue, NE, due to reports of an unconscious person. Detectives found 43-year-old Kareem Elliot Watkins and pronounced him dead on scene.

Byron Books, 35, has been apprehended in Georgia and is awaiting extradition.

Tory Lysik wrote this article.

Crime Alerts: June 10-11

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) did not send out any crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on June 10 and 9:00 a.m. on June 11.

The last alert sent was at 4:41 p.m. on June 10 for a shooting investigation on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

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