Judge Continues Status Hearing for Case of 1998 Murder

A DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing for a defendant charged in connection with a 1998 homicide.

Kenneth Bryant Jr., 48, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 35-year-old James Lane on Aug. 10, 1998, on the 200 block of S Street, NE. He picked up the charge in 2019.

During the June 21 hearing, the prosecution requested more time to give Bryant’s defense attorney, Ronald Resetarits, evidence because the case is so old.

Judge Milton Lee continued the status hearing to July 21.

Bryant is currently being held at FCI Bennettsville, a federal prison in South Carolina, on other charges. According to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), he has a release date in April 2025. The charges he was conviction of could not be immediately confirmed.

According to court documents, Bryant was charged with murder in 1989 and then again in 1990. Both cases were dismissed by grand juries. A 1990 case, in which he was charged with assault with intent to kill, met the same fate. He was also charged with armed burglary in 1992, but a jury acquitted him.

Crime Alerts: June 28-29

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

An alert was sent out at 9:58 p.m. due to reports of a shooting in the 400 block of O Street, NW. Police reported the suspect being a Black male with a black top, blue jeans and a black mask.

A second alert was sent at 11:00 p.m. due to a robbery in the 1300 block of Madison Street, NW. The suspect was a Black male wearing a white shirt and camouflage pants.

A third alert was sent out at 12:33 a.m. due to a robbery in the 1800 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE. The suspect was described as a black male wearing a black shirt.

A fourth crime alert was sent out at 12:35 a.m. due to a robbery in 4th and W Street, NE. The suspect is described as a black male.

A fifth crime alert was sent out at 12:47 a.m. due to a robbery in 16th Street and Columbia Road, NW. The suspect is in custody.

A final alert was sent out at 3:13 a.m. due to a robbery in the 1100 block of 19th Street, NW. The suspects have been identified as two Black males wearing ski masks.

Judge Orders Full Competency Examination for Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge ordered a full exam to determine if a murder defendant is competent to stand trial.

Jean Kearney, 34, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 33-year-old Dontra Harris on the 1800 block of 24th Street, NE, on April 4.

Earlier this month, a judge ordered a preliminary competency screening to be done from DC Jail. However, the doctor who performed the exam could not come to a conclusion about Kearney’s competency.

During the June 28 hearing, defense attorney Michael Madden asked that the exam be done at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital, rather than the jail.

Judge Neal Kravitz agreed to the request.

Judge Kravitz scheduled a mental observation hearing for July 29. He also scheduled a preliminary hearing to determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial for Aug. 13.

Judge Gives More Time for Evaluation of Sex Abuse Defendant’s Competency to Stand Trial

A DC Superior Court judge continued a mental observation hearing to give the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) more time to evaluate a sexual abuse defendant’s competency to stand trial.

The defendant is charged with first-degree sexual abuse of a victim under 18-years-old.

During the June 28 hearing, Judge John Campbell said the DBH previously told him they need another 45 days to complete the competency evaluation.

Judge Campbell scheduled the next mental observation hearing for July 28.

The defendant is also charged with kidnapping of a minor. His case went to trial over a year ago, but the jury could not make a unanimous decision and Judge Ronna Beck declared a mistrial.

Prosecution Anticipates Murder Indictment Will be Ready by September

A DC Superior Court judge continued a June 25 status hearing for a homicide case to September after the prosecution said they anticipate having an indictment ready by then.

Ernest Cleveland, 27, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting of 39-year-old Edward Pearson on Nov. 26, 2020, on the 2900 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW. The defendant is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to kill.

Judge Milton Lee scheduled the next hearing for Sept. 9.

Experts Expected to Testify on Murder Defendant’s Competence to Stand Trial

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing for experts to testify about a murder defendant’s competency to stand trial.

Jaykell Mason is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 29-year-old Terence Dantzler on the 700 block of 8th Street, NW, on Feb. 13, 2020. The 21-year-old is also charged with assault on a police officer while armed.

An April report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) found Mason competent to stand trial; however, defense attorney Roderick Thompson objected to the findings and hired his own expert, who has since evaluated the defendant twice.

During the June 28 hearing, Thompson told Judge John Campbell he expects his expert to have their second evaluation report done by the end of the week.

Judge John Campbell scheduled mental observation hearings for Oct. 7 and 8. The prosecution plans to call the doctor at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital, who found Mason competent to testify at that time. The defense plans to call three witnesses.

Judge Campbell also said the experts’ written reports will be considered their direct examination, which will allow the parties to jump straight into a cross-examination when the hearing begins.

Judge Campbell set Aug. 16 as the date when all expert reports must be exchanged between parties.

Murder Defendant Pleads Down to Voluntary Manslaughter

A murder victim’s mother spoke to a DC Superior Court judge as the defendant convicted in his death accepted the prosecution’s plea deal.

Aaron Jackson was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed in the stabbing of 36-year-old Jamaul Crockett on Nov. 5, 2020, on the 600 block of Lamont Street, NW.

During the June 24 hearing, the 41-year-old defendant pleaded down to voluntary manslaughter while armed. As part of the plea deal, the prosecution agreed to recommend a nine-and-a-half-year sentence.

Crockett’s mother was virtually present at the remote hearing. She thanked Judge Milton Lee for his work but disagreed with the recommended sentence. Instead, she thought Jackson should serve 12.5 years.

“He does nothing with his life besides get high,” she said.

Jackson was smoking K2 when he stabbed Crockett, according to court documents.

“What occurred in this case that we see all too often is simply a tragedy,” Judge Lee said. He told Crockett’s mother he takes what she says seriously, and he knows no sentence will satisfy her, since it won’t be able to undo her son’s murder.

“I have to make a very tough decision,” Judge Lee said.

Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 15.

Judge Releases Four Domestic Violence Defendants, Holds One

On June 27, 23 defendants were brought before the DC Superior Court for presentments.

Five domestic violence defendants were charged with simple assault. Four of them were released on their promise to return to court and one was given a stay away order. Another defendant was given a no Harass, Assault, Threaten or Stalk (HATS) order.

The fifth simple assault defendant was also charged with second-degree theft and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon. Judge John McCabe decided to hold him at DC Jail. His next hearing is scheduled for July 2.

The released defendants’ next hearings are scheduled for Jul. 13, Jul. 15, Jul. 20 and Oct. 22.

Isabel Angeli wrote this article.

Document: Homicide on the 100 Block of Kennedy Street

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

At about 12:07 a.m. police responded to reports of shooting at the 100 block of Kennedy Street, NW. Benson Thorne Sr., 52 and 40-year-old Pierre Turnage were pronounced dead, according to the press release.

Document: Traffic Fatality

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a traffic fatality that occurred on June 24 at about 12:07 a.m. in the 2200 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

The victim has been identified as 64-year-old Jeffrey Leon Washington. On June 24, 29-year-old Christian Denise Williams was arrested and charged with reckless driving.

Crime Alerts: June 27-28

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on June 27 and 9:00 a.m. on June 28.

A crime alert was sent out on June 27 at 10:40 p.m. due to a shooting in the 1200 block of Connecticut Ave, NW. Police reported the suspect was a Black male with a shoulder bag and a hat.

A second crime alert was sent out on June 28 at 2:41 a.m. due to a shooting in the 2000 block of 14th Street, NW. Police reported a tan sedan vehicle with three males.

Judge Holds Murder Defendant During Initial Hearings

A DC Superior Court judge held a defendant charged with second-degree murder while armed during presentments on June 25.

In total, 33 defendants were presented before the court.

Khalid Claggett, 37, was charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 30-year-old Isaac Aull Jr. on June 11.

According to a press release, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Aull suffering from gunshot wounds on the 1600 block of Franklin Street, NE. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Claggett was arrested on June 24.

During his presentment hearing, defense attorney Howard McEachern argued that Claggett should be released. He said the white hoodie and the blue satchel believed to be worn by the suspect are not consistent with what Claggett was wearing at the time of the shooting.

McEachern also said an identification process with witnesses to asses if Claggett matched their memory of the shooter’s appearance had yet to be performed.

The prosecution said there were multiple videos, including an Instagram live story, showing Claggett with the hoodie and satchel in question prior to the shooting. They also said they have photographic evidence matching Claggett’s description.

Judge Shelly Mulkey decided to hold Claggett due to the strength of the photo and video evidence as well as the fact that Claggett had prior felony convictions.

Judge Mulkey scheduled Claggett for a felony status conference on July 15.

Judge Mulkey also released all four of the defendants who were charged in domestic violence cases. Their charges included attempted threats to do bodily harm, unlawful entry and destruction of property. All of the defendants were given stay away orders. The defendants are scheduled to return to court on Oct. 22.

Document: Traffic Fatality

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a traffic fatality that occurred on June 24.

According to a press release, at about 11:33 p.m. a 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle was reportedly driving at a high speed southbound in the 3600 block of Southern Avenue, SE.

“The motorcycle collided with a 2000 Ford F-150 pick-up truck. The motorcycle then lost control, mounted the curb, struck a tree, and the operator was thrown from the motorcycle,” the press release said. “The motorcycle then struck a telephone pole and then a 2015 Honda Accord.”

The motorcyclist, 28-year-old Kenneth Andre Brown Jr., was pronounced dead on scene.

Judge Schedules Trial Readiness Hearing for Co-Defendants Charged with Murder

On June 23, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled another trial readiness hearing in a homicide case with two co-defendants.

Stephon Evans, 21, and Kewon Hunter, 21, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 21-year-old Dion DeMarco Boyd on July 30, 2018, on the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue, NE. Evans and Hunter are also charged with conspiracy while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.

Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled the trial readiness hearing for July 28 to give defense attorney Jason Clark time to talk with his clients about how they would like to proceed with the case.

Evans is also charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in the death of 21-year-old Michael Taylor on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE on Jan. 12, 2019, which is a separate case. He is one of four defendants charged in connection with the homicide.

Carlos Turner, 23, is also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with Taylor’s homicide. His case was not heard today, but he is scheduled for a status hearing on Jan. 5, 2022.

Judge Denies Request to Amend Release Conditions for Woman Charged in Child’s Murder

A DC Superior Court judge denied a defense attorney’s request to allow her client, who is accused of killing her two-year-old child, to see her other children.

Ta’jenna Eason is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree cruelty to children in the death of her toddler, Gabriel Eason, on April 1, 2020. She and her partner and co-defendant, Antoinio Turner, are accused of abusing Gabriel and failing to seek medical attention for the injuries he sustained. According to court documents, when the police responded to their apartment on the 900 block of Division Avenue, NE, they found Gabriel with visible signs of trauma. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Ta’jenna Eason, 31, was released with a stay away order during her initial hearing following her arrest in November. During the June 23 hearing, defense attorney Dana Page asked Judge Milton Lee to amend the current stay away order, so she can have supervised visits with her other two children through Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA).

Page said the modification would make the stay away order consistent with the case she has open in family court. She argues that if the neglect case finds it is in the best interest of the children to have supervised visits, the criminal court should follow suit, since the family court deals with parental matters more often.

The prosecution, however, opposed the request, saying that the older child, who is 11, will most likely be a witness in the case.

The defense then asked to amend the stay away order for just the younger child, who is 4 years old, since they are not old enough to be a witness and therefore would not be compromising the prosecution’s case.

However, Judge Lee said the four-year-old child could potentially be a witness, and denied both of the defense’s requests.

Eason’s next hearing is scheduled for July 26. At the next hearing parties are expected to schedule a preliminary hearing to determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Parties are calso in plea negotiations. The prosecution has offered a pre-preliminary hearing plea deal, which is wired with Turner’s case.

Turner, 29, is facing the same charges as his partner. He is scheduled for a status hearing on Oct. 13.

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