Judge Continues Murder Case as Prosecution Works on Indictment

A DC Superior Court judge continued a June 22 hearing for a homicide case.

Ronald Miller is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 28-year-old Tiffany Hardy on Feb. 8, inside her apartment on the 1600 block of E Street, NE.

Hardy sustained more than 40 stab wounds, according to court documents. Miller, 42, was arrested that same day. According to him, the two were in a romantic relationship, D.C. Witness previously reported.

The prosecution, who said they are still working on getting the case indicted, asked Judge John Campbell to schedule the next court hearing to take place in September.

Judge Campbell agreed to the request, rescheduling the existing July 28 hearing date to Sept. 7.

Judge Releases 4 Domestic Violence Defendants, Holds 3 During Initial Hearings

A DC Superior Court judge released four domestic violence defendants and held three others during initial hearings on June 21.

In total, 30 cases were brought before the court. All seven of the domestic violence defendants were charged in misdemeanor cases.

One of the held defendants was charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm. Judge Errol Arthur issued a stay away order from the victim in that case.

Judge Arthur also held a defendant charged with contempt, assault on a police officer and resisting arrest as well as a defendant charged with contempt and simple assault.

The held defendants are scheduled to return to court on July 6.

In one case, a domestic violence defendant was charged with simple assault and destruction of property less than $1,000 after having picked up those same charges last November. He is accused of assaulting the same victim in both cases.

Judge Arthur placed him on GPS monitoring and allowed him to retrieve his belongings from the house in which he and the victim lived. He will be accompanied by a police escort.

Judge Arthur also released another domestic violence defendant charged with assault. He ordered the defendant to Harass, Assault, Threaten or Stalk (HATS) the victim.

The two other released defendants were both charged with simple assault. Judge Arthur gave them both stay away orders.

The released defendants are scheduled to return to court on Oct. 18.

Judge Moves Up Murder Trial

A DC Superior Court judge set a murder defendant’s trial to begin nearly a year earlier than what was previously scheduled.

Clinton Womack 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.

Earlier this year, a judge scheduled the 31-year-old defendant to go before a jury in July 2023. But during the June 22 hearing, Judge Juliet McKenna said that, due to changes in courtroom availability, the trial could happen sooner.

Judge McKenna set aside Aug. 3 through 24, 2022, for jury selection and trial.

Womack has been held at DC Jail since he was arrested in December 2016. Womack was scheduled to go to trial once in 2018, twice in 2019 and once again in 2020, D.C. Witness reported.

During a hearing last March for a different homicide case, Judge Danya Dayson said the court is keeping a list of the trials they have scheduled, so, when more courtrooms become available, those trials could potentially be rescheduled for an earlier date.

Parties are also waiting for a ruling from Judge Milton Lee on a defense motion to suppress evidence that defense attorney Steven Kiersh argued was obtained in violation of his client’s constitutional rights. Judge McKenna scheduled a trial readiness hearing for Oct. 29 to address this.

Case Acquitted: Judge Schedules Trial to Begin Earlier

This case has been acquitted.

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a homicide defendant’s 2023 trial dates to begin earlier.

Tony White, who is also known as Cedric Alexander, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Daquan Hooks on March 23, 2017, on the 1900 block of 13th Street, SE.

White, 48, is also charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a license in this case.

Earlier this year, D.C. Witness reported that a judge scheduled the defendant to go before a jury in January 2023. But, during the June 21 trial readiness hearing, defense attorney Kristin McGough asked Judge Juliet McKenna for an earlier trial date.

Judge McKenna agreed to the request, scheduling the trial for Feb. 2 and 3, 2022, for jury selection, and setting aside Feb. 7 through 14 for the trial.

D.C. Witness previously reported that, during a hearing for a different homicide case back in March, Judge Danya Dayson said the court is keeping a list of the trials they have scheduled, so, when more courtrooms become available, those trials could potentially be rescheduled for an earlier date.

White is scheduled for another trial readiness hearing on Sept. 30.

Brennan Fiske wrote this article.

Document: Pedestrian Killed in Hit-and-Run

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a traffic fatality that resulted from a hit and run on June 19.

The pedestrian, 35-year-old Pedro Diaz Flora, was struck by a Nissan Altima.

According to a press release, preliminary investigation revealed that, at around 3:27 a.m., Flora walked southbound on the west sidewalk of Georgia Avenue before walking west to east to cross over Georgia Avenue.

The Nissan Altima was traveling northbound in the 5700 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. The vehicle fled after colliding with Flora, who was ultimately pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Crime Alerts: June 22-23

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on June 22 and 9:00 a.m.

At 9:09 p.m. on June 22 an alert was sent out at about a shooting investigation in the 4000 block of 3rd Street, SE.

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

A second alert was sent out at 5:40 a.m. due to a robbery investigation in the 900 block of Kennedy Street, NW. Police are on the lookout for three Black males wearing dark clothing.

Judge Continues Status Hearing for Sex Abuse Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge continued a June 22 status hearing for a sex abuse case.

The 30-year-old defendant is charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse for allegedly exposing himself to a victim before grabbing him and pulling his pants down on the west campus of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital on the 2700 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE, on July 11, 2020.

The prosecution has not yet returned an indictment.

Judge Milton Lee scheduled the next hearing for July 28.

Carlin Fisher wrote this article.

Judge Continues Status Hearing for 2017 Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge continued a June 22 status hearing for a defendant charged in connection with a 2017 homicide.

Tavon Davis is charged with second-degree murder while armed and soliciting murder in the death of 29-year-old Michael Vest on the 1300 block of Trinidad Avenue, NE, on June 28, 2017.

The 26-year-old defendant is also charged with obstructing justice and threats to kidnap or injure a person.

Judge Milton Lee continued the status hearing to July 13.

Carlin Fisher wrote this article.

Crime Alerts: June 21-22

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) released four crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on June 21 and 9:00 a.m. on June 22.

An alert was released at 9:22 p.m. due to reports of a robbery on the corner of W Street and 10th Street, NW. The suspect is wearing all white.

A second alert was sent out at 10:02 p.m. due to a robbery in the 1300 block of Perry Street, NE. The suspect was wearing a grey hooded shirt with dark pants.

A third crime alert was sent out at 11:09 p.m. due to a robbery investigation in the 4900 block of Rock Creek Church Road, NW. The suspect is a Black male wearing a black face mask, sweatshirt, pants, and armed with a handgun.

A final crime alert was sent out at 3:49 a.m. in the 200 block of Bates Street, NW. The suspect was wearing a white/silver graphic t shirt and blue jeans.

Document: Suspect Sought in Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on May 15.

At about 4:55 p.m. police responded to the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE due to reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, police found an adult male and two adult females, all suffering from gunshot wounds. The two adult females were treated for non-life-threatening injuries while the adult female was pronounced dead. A fourth victim was also treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the press release.

The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Lester Howard. Police are currently looking for the suspect.

Acquitted: Judge Continues 2020 Murder Case as Parties Await Indictment

Editor’s note: On May 30, a jury acquitted Devonte Brothers of all charges connected to the homicide of Deron Leake. Brothers is still being held on homicide charges in another case.

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a felony status hearing for a homicide case that is currently awaiting indictment.

Devonte Brothers is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 27-year-old Deron Leake on Oct. 17, 2019, on the 4200 block of 6th Street, SE.

During the June 21 hearing, the prosecution said that once an indictment is secured and a ruling on a motion for a protective order is decided, they would be ready for the judge to schedule trial dates.

Judge John Campbell continued the hearing to Sept. 14.

Brothers, 26, is also charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 30-year-old Arkeem Jackson on June 16, 2019, on the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 29 to determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Prosecution Expects 40-50 Witnesses and A Month-long Trial for Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled two co-defendants charged in connection with the death of a 22-year-old man to go to trial next year.

John McRae, 43, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 22-year-old Marty McMillan on March 23, 2017, on the 1900 block of 13th Street, SE. McRae’s 24-year-old co-defendant, Shaniah Davis, is charged with accessory after the fact in connection with the homicide.

Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled jury selection to take place on April 20 and 21, 2022. She set aside April 25 through May 27, 2022, for the trial.

The prosecutor told Judge McKenna that he expects to call 40-50 witnesses during the trial.

Judge Mckenna also scheduled a status hearing for McRae for Sept. 10 and another trial readiness hearing for both defendants for Oct. 22.

Judge Schedules Trial Readiness Hearing for Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a trial readiness hearing for 2019 murder case.

Andre Dubose is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly beating 37-year-old Ahmad Simms to death with a wooden object on March 17, 2019, on the 1800 block of Q Street, SE.

During the June 16 hearing, Defense attorney Joseph Wong asked Judge Rainey Bandt to schedule a trial readiness hearing for both of his client’s cases.

Dubose was released into the High-Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) in June 2020 until he was rearrested for allegedly assaulting two victims with a metal pole in December 2020.

Judge Brandt gave the defense until Aug. 13 to file any motions. The prosecution has until Sept. 13 to respond.

The trial readiness hearing is scheduled for Sept 13. In the meantime, Dubose will remain held at DC Jail.

Document: Suspect Sought in an Assault with Intent to Commit First Degree Sexual Abuse Offense

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are looking for a suspect in connection with an assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse offense that occurred on June 18.

At about 8:00 p.m. the suspect approached the female victim in the 200 Block of 51st Street, SE. The suspect assaulted the victim with the intent to commit a sexual act and fled the scene.

Crime Alerts: June 20-21

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) released two crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on June 20 and 9:00 a.m. on June 21.

A crime alert was sent out at 9:36 p.m. due to a robbery investigation on the 900 block of Valley Street, SE. Police are looking for a Black male wearing an orange shirt in a blue Dodge truck armed with a weapon.

A second crime alert was sent out at 5:45 a.m. for a robbery investigation in the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE. Police are looking for two Black males. One is wearing a white tank top with black jeans while the other is wearing an all black sweatsuit and holding a handgun.

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