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Domestic Violence Defendant Sentenced for Near-Fatal Stabbing

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a domestic violence defendant to serve about five-and-a-half years for assault with intent to kill while armed following a near-fatal stabbing.

“I get up, I’m standing in a pool of my own blood,” the victim recalled in an impact statement.

The defendant, 56-year-old Tony Mobley, stabbed her multiple times, including in the neck and head, she said. 

The stabbing took place in her apartment, where she still lives. The prosecution is trying to help her move out so she doesn’t have to keep living in the home where she nearly died.

“Everybody kept telling me to get away from him…I never thought he’d try to take my life,” she said.

Judge Milton Lee told Mobley he came very close to killing the victim, and that if he did, “you would be in prison for the rest of your natural life,” rather than the 66 months he ultimately received.

But the victim expressed dissatisfaction with the plea deal. “To give him five-and-a-half years…I don’t see justice in that,” she said.

Judge Lee said he had an obligation to honor the plea deal. The prosecutor said she took Mobley’s serious struggles with addiction into consideration when she extended him the plea offer, which also allowed his assault with a dangerous weapon charge to be dropped. 

Mobley told Judge Lee he has been receiving treatment for his drug addiction during his incarceration. Judge Lee encouraged him to use the resources available to help him live a peaceful life upon his release.

“The benefit to you, I think, is the journey you already started,” Judge Lee told him. “Because you will have an opportunity to return to the District of Columbia.”

Mobley was also ordered to stay away from the victim.

Man Charged in Six-Year-Old’s Death Held During Presentments 

A DC Superior Court judge held a homicide defendant and released two domestic violence defendants as well as one sex abuse defendant during presentments on July 29. A total of 30 defendants were presented. 

Judge Judith Pipe held 22-year-old Marktwan Hargraves, who is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of six-year-old Nyiah Courtney on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE.

The prosecution said the July 16 shooting wounded Courtney’s parents and three other people as well. They also said the defendant’s vehicle and text messages linked him to the homicide.

Hagraves is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 18.

Two domestic violence defendants were released. Their charges include simple assault and destruction of property. A defendant charged with misdemeanor sex abuse and simple assault was also released. All three of them are scheduled to return to court on Nov. 10.

Crime Alerts: July 29-30

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out four crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on July 29 and 9:00 a.m. on July 30.

An alert was sent out at 2:06 a.m. due to an assault with intent to commit a robbery investigation on the 1500 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. Police identified the suspects as two Black males, one with a slim build wearing a black mask and one with a heavy build and wearing a grey sweatshirt.

A second alert was sent out at 4:37 a.m. due to a robbery investigation on the 600 block of Acker Place, NE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male who is approximately 20-24 years old, wearing a grey sweatshirt and dark pants.

A final crime alert was sent out at 4:39 a.m. due to a robbery on the 600 block of 4th Street, NE. Police identified the suspect as two Black males who are about 20-29 years old. One is wearing a white shirt and dark pants.

Prosecution in Murder Case Accused of Violating Disclosure Rules

A DC Superior Court judge said he was “admittedly frustrated” after telling the prosecution they had violated the Jencks Act, which requires the prosecution to hand over reports made by government witnesses, several times throughout the course of a three-day preliminary hearing to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Kirk Spencer, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 49-year-old Marcus Covington on Feb. 23 at the Anacostia Metro Station on the 1100 block of Howard Road, SE.

Judge Michael Ryan found probable cause but said the prosecution violated the Jencks Act on four separate occasions with four different judges. He said this caused the hearing to go on longer than necessary. 

On July 27, the second day of the preliminary hearing, Judge Ryan ended the proceedings early after defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman asked the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective about documents and files he obtained throughout his investigation, and he referred to pieces of evidence she said she never got. Judge Ryan told the prosecution they “will have until midnight tonight to find every communication this detective has made.”

When proceedings picked back up on July 28, Cadman spoke to the detectives for approximately five minutes about his emails regarding the case, finishing the cross-examination. 

During re-direct, the detective told the prosecution that, while executing a search warrant on the defendant’s home, he recovered two pairs of shoes which he said were similar to those shown in video footage. 

The footage shows Spencer entering a dumpster enclosure through an alley in the rear of his home after Covington was killed. The suspect exits the dumpster enclosure soon after, wearing different clothing. He then leaves the view of the camera.

According to court documents, previous video footage shows that the defendant allegedly changed into the shoes and coat before the homicide in this same dumpster enclosure nearby his home.

After finding probable cause, Judge Ryan ruled that Spencer should remain held at DC Jail. He is scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 12.

Judge Rules Homicide Case Has Enough Evidence to Go to Trial

Despite a defense attorney’s arguments that his client acted in self-defense during a fatal stabbing in May, a DC Superior Court judge ruled that the case against his client has enough evidence to go to trial.

Aaron Kenon is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 29-year-old Keith Frye to death on May 8. That evening, police found Frye outside a 7-Eleven convenience store on the 400 block of 8th Street, SE, suffering from a stab wound. He was pronounced dead on scene. 

On July 21, defense attorney David Akulian argued that his 43-year-old client should be released due to the limited evidence against him, saying the prosecution “would not be able to disprove” that Kenon acted in self-defense, D.C. Witness previously reported. Towards the beginning of that hearing, Judge Milton Lee commented, “this might be a pretty good self-defense case,” but he said he was “not so sure” that Kenon’s alleged use of force was reasonable, telling parties this issue is probably going to be relevant in Kenon’s upcoming preliminary hearing.

“Bringing a weapon to a fistfight wouldn’t be justifiable defense,” said Judge Michael Ryan during the July 27 preliminary hearing. “He commented on his own intent repeatedly. His intent seems quite clear.”

Judge Ryan made a finding of substantial probability.

The prosecution played surveillance footage from the 7-Eleven, which shows one man punching another in the face. The second man follows the first man off-camera and is later seen walking back in the other direction.

A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective assigned to the case identified the first man as Frye and the second man as Kenon. The man who the detective identified as Kenon can be seen in the video with an object dangling from his belt as he walks back into view, which the detective said was the sheath for a large knife.

The detective said Kenon admitted to stabbing Frye with a knife during his police interview, saying he carried the knife with him every day since Jan. 6, when The U.S. Capitol was attacked. The prosecution also showed photographs of three large knives found in Kenon’s home, one of which he reportedly told police was the one he used to stab Frye.

Kenon allegedly demonstrated the stabbing motion he used and told police that he stabbed Frye to get him to go away.

However, Akulian said the stabbing motion Kenon demonstrated was not consistent with the findings from the medical examination of Frye’s wound.

The detective said the doctor who examined Frye after his death said he would not have survived, even if he were stabbed in the emergency room. 

Akulian also said that police never determined what the object the MPD detective theorized was a sheath actually was. Additionally, the MPD detective said the plastic covering over the photographed knife Kenon said he used did not match the sheath from the video, nor did it match the size or shape of Frye’s wound.

Akulian argued that Kenon was acting in self-defense. He said the punch that Frye delivered to Kenon’s face, which was strong enough to knock Kenon onto his back, would have constituted aggravated assault if it had knocked him out. 

Akulian told Judge Ryan that this could be a different case with a different victim and defendant if things had gone slightly differently.

The prosecution argued that Kenon was not acting in self-defense because he followed Frye and because of his “disproportionate use of lethal force in what was a fistfight at best.”

The prosecution also claimed that, after the stabbing, Kenon made statements including, “I finished you,” and, “you f*** with me and I’ll kill you.”

Judge Ryan ruled that Kenon should remain held at DC Jail. He scheduled a felony status conference for Oct. 1.

Fatal Stabbing Case to Go Before Jury in 2022

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a jury trial for a murder case. 

Travis Russell, 37, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 44-year-old Michael Hooker in the neck with a piece of glass on May 26, 2019, on the 2700 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE. 

Russell is also charged with carrying a dangerous weapon. 


During the July 29 hearing, Judge Neal Kravitz set aside June 15 through July 1, 2022, for the trial. He also has a trial readiness hearing scheduled for Nov. 12.

Judge Sets Prelim For Murder Defendant Arrested in Georgia


On July 28, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Byron Brooks is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 43-year-old Kareem Elliot Watkins on the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue, NE, on May 11. The 35-year-old defendant was arrested by law enforcement officers in Fulton County, Ga. pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant on June 3.

Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled the preliminary hearing for Sept 8. 

Crime Alerts: July 28-29

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on July 28 and 9:00 a.m. on July 29.

A crime alert was sent out at 11:16 p.m. due to an armed robbery in the 6600 block of Luzon Avenue, NW. Police identified the suspects as two Black males wearing black sweatshirts, ski masks, and armed with handguns.

A second crime alert was sent out at 11:41 a.m. due to an armed robbery at the  4500 block of 14th Street, NW. Police identified the suspects as two Black males armed with a handgun who were last seen getting into a grey sedan.

A final crime alert was last sent at 4:36 a.m. due to a stabbing in the 5000 block of Benning Road, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

Judge Releases All Sex Abuse and Domestic Violence Defendants During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge released one sex abuse defendant and three domestic violence defendants during presentments on July 28.

The sex abuse defendant is charged with third-degree sex abuse and assault with intent to commit first-degree sex abuse. The charges for the domestic violence defendants include threat to kidnap or injure a person, simple assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, threats to do bodily harm and attempted threats to do bodily harm. 

Judge Judith Pipe issued a no Harass, Assault, Threaten or Stalk (HATS) order for one of the domestic violence defendants. The other three received stay away orders.

The released defendants are scheduled to return to court on Nov. 10.

In total, 18 defendants were presented before the court. 

Document: Homicide on the 200 Block of Mississippi Avenue, SE

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on July 28.

At approximately 12:36 p.m. police responded to the 200 block of Mississippi Avenue, SE, due to a report of a shooting. Police located an adult male with gunshot wounds in a vehicle. The victim, 31-year-old Dimitrie Jackson, was taken to a local hospital but was later pronounced dead, according to the press release.

Document: Traffic Fatality

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a traffic fatality that resulted from a traffic crash that occurred on July 28.

Preliminary investigations show that at approximately 8:21 a.m., a pedestrian was standing behind his car on the 4400 block of Bowen Road, SE. A vehicle struck the pedestrian and pinned him in between the two vehicles. The impact also forced the pedestrian’s vehicle to hit a parked vehicle, according to the press release.

The pedestrian, 66-year-old Keith Douglas, was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital, according to the press release.

Judge Schedules Preliminary Hearing for Murder Case

On July 28, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.

D’Aundrey Scott, 27, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly starting a fire that killed 62-year-old Darryl Finney on May 13, 2020, on the 900 block of H Street, NE. 

Around 12:36 a.m., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the 900 block of H Street, NE for the report of a fire. According to court documents, officers used camera footage from the scene and observed a person alleged to be the defendant producing “what appears to be a gas can” and igniting some paper before fleeing on foot.

Finney was admitted to a local hospital but died three days later.  

Roderick Thompson, Scott’s attorney, requested a preliminary hearing. Judge Milton Lee scheduled one for Sept. 9. 

A preliminary hearing was previously set to take place in February, but it was rescheduled in light of new evidence, D.C. Witness previously reported. A judge then set a March date for the preliminary hearing, but that fell through as well.

Judge Says Domestic Violence Defendant ‘Has Great Promise’ During Sentencing

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a domestic violence defendant to three years in prison.

Delonte Peters was originally charged with kidnapping. According to the prosecution, on May 9, 2020, he grabbed the victim from behind and threw her into her car. He then totaled her car by driving it into a lake.

Peters pleaded down to simple assault and second-degree attempted theft. He was sentenced to six months for each charge. The sentences will run concurrently.

Judge Neal Kravitz also sentenced him to two-and-a-half years for assault with a dangerous weapon in a separate case. That sentence will run consecutive to the sentence in the domestic violence case, leaving Peters with three years to serve in total.

Judge Kravitz ordered him to stay away from the victims in both cases. He also recommended he receive substance abuse and mental health treatment while in prison.

Defense attorney Frances D’Antuono spoke about how her client’s mental health issues contributed to his actions on May 9, but said he is making an effort to get mental health treatment and take rehabilitative steps.

Peters then spoke to the court, saying he was very sorry and has written letters to both victims.

Judge Kravitz commended both sides for the thoroughness of the information provided. He said he felt like he really understood the complexities of Peters’ situation.

Towards the end of the July 28 sentencing, Judge Kravitz called Peters “someone who has great promise” and said that as long as he stays in mental health treatment he will be a productive member of society.

Suspect Arrested in Fatal Shooting of 6-Year-Old Girl

On July 28, Metropolitan Police Department  (MPD) Chief Robert J. Contee III announced that a suspect has been arrested for murder in the death of six-year-old Nyiah Courtney, who was fatally shot on July 16 on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. 

“The prayers of the community have been answered, “ he said. “I’m here to announce today that we’ve got our man.”

Members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force have arrested 22-year-old Marktwan Hargraves of Waldorf, Md. for first-degree murder while armed in connection with Courtney’s death, he said. 

Five other victims, three men and two women, were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries on the night of the shooting, D.C. Witness previously reported.