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Judge Holds 3 Domestic Violence Defendants During Initial Hearings

On March 29, a DC Superior Court judge released four of the 10 defendants charged in domestic violence cases. 

Of the total 31 cases, Judge Heide Herrmann heard 10 domestic violence cases and one sexual abuse case.

One of the defendants, who was held, is charged with contempt for violating his conditions of release and attempted threats to do bodily harm. The defendant has other domestic violence cases with prior stay-away orders. 

Judge Herrmann recognized the defendant’s attempts to have a police officer escort him to get property from the location of the stay-away, however, the defendant allegedly made threats to the complainant, which made her believe that he is potentially dangerous to the community.

Another defendant that was held is charged with simple assault and possession of a controlled substance. Judge Herrmann also deemed this defendant potentially dangerous to the community because the domestic violence case also had gun violence associated with it and his prior convictions involving firearms. 

Another defendant, who was held, is charged with unlawful entry of private property, second-degree theft and simple assault. The defense attorney asked for the defendant to be placed on home confinement instead of being held at the jail because he has complied with a lot of his release requirements in the past.

However, Judge Herrmann granted the prosecution’s request to hold the defendant.

All three of the defendants are held until their next hearings on April 13. 

Judge Herrmann also issued stay-away orders for all remaining domestic violence defendants and ordered them to contact the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) once a week.

The defendants have charges that include simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm, contempt, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, destruction of property and violation of a Temporary Protection Order (TPO). Additionally, one of the defendants was brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear at her hearing.

The defendant charged with second-degree sexual abuse was also issued a stay-away order and was instructed to contact PSA once a week as conditions of his release. 

The released defendants are scheduled to return to court on Aug. 30.

Crime Alerts: March 29-30

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 7:30 p.m. on March 29 and 9:00 a.m. on March 30.

The alert was sent at 7:30 p.m. for a robbery at the intersection of 4th Street and G Street, SE.

Police stopped suspects on the scene.

Domestic Violence Defendant Pleads Guilty

A domestic violence defendant pleaded guilty to two charges. 

According to a proffer of facts, 21-year-old Jestyn Young confronted the victim in her car and, when she tried to call the police, stabbed and slapped her before fleeing the scene. 

During the March 26 hearing, Young pleaded down from his initial charge of assault with a dangerous weapon to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon. He also pleaded guilty to contempt. 

Young will remain held at DC Jail until he is sentenced on May 27.

DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell ordered a Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) study for him. If Young does get sentenced under the YRA, his case will effectively be sealed after he completes certain requirements. 

Eileen Chen wrote this article

Judge Sentences Sex Abuse Defendant to Time Served

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a sex abuse defendant after he made a plea deal with the prosecution. 

Demitrious Harriott was initially charged with first-degree sexual abuse and robbery in September 2020, and had been held at DC Jail since then. 

During the March 29 hearing, he pleaded down to charges of misdemeanor sexual abuse and second-degree theft. 

Judge Marisa Demeo sentenced Harriot, 31, to time served. He will also have to pay $50 to the Victims of Violent Crime (VVC) fund for each charge.

Brennan Fiske wrote this article. 

Counsel Holds Off on Scheduling Trial for Homicide Case

Counsel in a homicide case agreed to wait and see if more courtrooms were available for trials upon reconvening later in the year, rather than schedule one for March 2023.

Rakeem Willis, 29, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the deaths of 24-year-old Tyrik Hagood, 26-year-old Javon Abney, and 26-year-old Sean Shuler. On Jan. 26, 2019, the three victims were found on the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place, SE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. All three were pronounced dead on scene.

Willis’ co-defendant, 31-year-old Jonathan Winston, is also charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shootings.

During the March 29 hearing, Judge Danya Dayson said that, based on courtroom availability, parties would be looking at a trial date two years from now. She explained that the trial could be set for 2023 or they could come back in August to set a trial.

Judge Dayson said she hopes that more courtrooms will have opened by fall.

Judge Dayson also said the court has been keeping a list of the trials as they have been scheduled so that when more courtrooms become available, those trials could potentially be rescheduled for an earlier date. 

The hearing is scheduled to continue on Aug. 23.

No Consensus in Plea Negotiation for Armed Sex Abuse Case

A DC Superior Court judge continued a March 29 hearing in a sex abuse case.

The 43-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree sexual abuse while armed for allegedly forcing a woman to perform sexual acts on him at gunpoint in 2006. The defendant was charged last year.

Defense attorney Dana Page mentioned that plea offers have been sent back and forth between parties; however, there has been no consensus and they believe that this case will go to trial.

The case is also currently pending a felony indictment.

Judge Danya Dayson scheduled the next status hearing for July 6. 

Sarah Gebrengus wrote this article.

Judge Releases 5 Domestic Violence Defendants During Initial Hearings

During initial hearings on March 18, DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann released five domestic violence defendants.

In total, 26 defendants were presented before the court.

One defendant is charged with violating bail and was additionally brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear at his hearing in a domestic violence case. 

Since the defendant is not charged with any additional assaultive conduct, Judge Herrmann released him with an order to return to court on Aug. 19 in his new case and March 23 in his existing case.

The remaining four defendants have charges involving simple assault, destruction of property, attempted threats to do bodily harm and violation of a Civil Protection Order (CPO).

Three of the defendants were given stay-away orders from the alleged victims as well as the locations of the incidents. One defendant was given an order not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the alleged victim.

All of the domestic violence defendants have active CPOs, as well.

The four defendants were ordered to return to court on Aug. 19.

Homicide Defendant Found Competent, Preliminary Hearing Date Set


A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a preliminary hearing in a murder case after the defendant was found competent to stand trial. 

Christian Arndt, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of his 54-year-old father, Donald Arndt. Arndt was reportedly beaten to death with a bat on Jan. 28 on the 3000 block of Newark Street, NW. 

During the March 29 mental observation hearing, Judge Marisa Demeo reviewed a report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), which stated that Arndt was competent to proceed with his case. 

Parties did not contest the competency finding, but defense attorney Philip Andonian asked for a few months before the preliminary hearing.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do at this moment, I think we need more time to be able to digest the report,” Andonian said. 

Judge Demeo set a preliminary hearing for May 10. 

Brennan Fiske wrote this article. 

Judge Can’t Schedule Trial Date, Continues Hearing for Homicide Defendant Instead

On March 29, a DC Superior Court judge continued a status hearing for a homicide defendant. 

Javon Gunter, 19, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 15-year-old Thomas Johnson, who was shot on Oct. 9, 2019, on the 1300 block of Half Street, SW.

Defense attorney Ronald Resetarits said the prosecution previously put a plea offer on the table,  but it was rejected.

Judge Danya Dayson also said that, due to the pandemic, there is limited space for socially distanced in-person jury trials. Therefore, this case would not be eligible for the scheduling of a trial date as of now.  

Judge Dayson scheduled the next status hearing for May 12.

Sarah Gebrengus wrote this article.

Judge Schedules Status Hearing for Domestic Violence Case

 A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a status hearing for a domestic violence case. 

The defendant is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and aggravated assault knowingly while armed. 

Defense attorney Anthony Viviani and the prosecution asked Judge Milton Lee to continue the March 29 hearing so they could have more time to negotiate towards a resolution.

Judge Lee scheduled a status hearing for April 19. In the meantime, Johnson will remain held at DC Jail.

Brennan Fiske wrote this article.

Document: Homicide in Woodland Neighborhood

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that happened on the afternoon of March 28.

At around 1:31 p.m. that day, officers responded to the 2700 block of Bruce Place, SE for the report of a shooting.

There, they found 27 year-old Darius Burts suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Crime Alerts: March 28-29

There were no crime alerts sent out by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) between 7:30 p.m. on March 28 and 9:00 a.m. on March 29.

Judge Grants Extension in Alleged Kidnapping and Hospital Escape Case

A DC Superior Court judge gave defense counsel more time to obtain an independent forensic exam for a murder defendant who is facing new charges after allegedly escaping from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. 

In 2017, Bernard Coleman, III pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for shooting  his father, Bernard Coleman, Jr.,43, while he was sleeping on March 17, 2017. 

During the March 26 hearing, defense attorney Dominique Winters said her client will not be sentenced until his 2020 kidnapping case has been “sorted out.” 

According to court documents, while awaiting sentencing, the 27-year-old allegedly escaped from St. Elizabeth’s, DC’s psychiatric institution, on Oct. 3, 2020. Coleman and another suspect allegedly kidnapped and robbed a man, tasered him, stabbed his hands and left him handcuffed in a basement for three hours on the 400 block of Chaplin Street, SE on Oct. 7.

Coleman was apprehended that same day and now faces armed kidnapping charges. 

He was found competent in his cases following a preliminary screening in December, which the defense disagreed with, and again after a full exam in February.

Defense attorneys Winters and Janai Reed had said they will conduct an independent forensic exam and present their findings during the March 26 hearing. However, Reed said they were unable to hire an expert to evaluate the defendant. 

Reed asked for a 90-day extension to allow time for an independent expert to review items related to the case and evaluate the defendant. 

Judge Ryan scheduled a mental observation hearing for the defense to present their independent forensic exam for May 28. 

In the meantime, Coleman will remain at DC Jail. 

McKenzie Beard wrote this article.

Crime Alerts: March 25-26

From March 25 at 12:00 p.m. to March 26 at 12:00 p.m., the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts.

At 3:43 p.m. on March 25, the MPD sent out an alert for a stabbing on the 1100 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW. Police said they are looking for a Black female about 5’7” tall wearing a blue cloth hat, black jacket and blue jeans, as well as a Black male with long dreadlocks wearing a black track jacket and black sweatpants.

At 11:27 a.m. on March 26, police sent out a crime alert for a robbery on the 3800 block of 22nd Street, NE. Police said they are looking for a Black male armed with a 45 caliber pistol, who they said fled in a Black Honda Civic 2D.