Defendant Pleads Guilty to Murder

A defendant charged in connection with a homicide from last summer pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

In the early hours of July 12, 2020, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the 800 block of 19th Street, NE, for the report of a shooting, according to court documents. They found 28-year-old Shanika Williams in an apartment with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. She was pronounced dead on scene.

Last February, Steven Robinson was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed. According to court documents, the 30-year-old defendant was in a romantic relationship with Williams.

During the June 9 hearing, Robinson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

As part of the plea deal he took, prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence of 10-12 years.

Defense attorney Matthew Davies asked Judge Neal Kravitz to release his client so he can see his family before he is sentenced on Sept. 3. However, Judge Kravitz agreed with the prosecution that the case was too serious for Robinson to be released.

Three Defendants Held on Domestic Violence Charges During Initial Hearings

During presentment hearings on June 8, DC Superior Court Judge Shelly Mulkey held three out of seven domestic violence defendants.

In total, 25 defendants were presented to the court at presentments. Seven of these were domestic violence cases and none were homicide-related.

Judge Mulkey held a defendant charged with assault with a dangerous weapon due to their previous criminal record and allegations of the case. The defendant allegedly pointed a gun at the complaining witness. Her grandmother reportedly stood between them and said, “you will not shoot my granddaughter.”

The defendant was convicted of prison breach in 2014 and has had eight bench warrants executed in the past. Judge Mulkey noted these when stating her decision to hold the defendant at the jail pending his next hearing.

One defendant is charged in three separate domestic violence cases. The charges for these cases are all simple assault with one also having a destruction of property charge. The defendant was held due to other earlier domestic abuse charges being tied to the same victim. They were also given stay away orders.

The final defendant held is charged with simple assault and contempt of court. The defendant has another case pending involving the same complaining witness, and Juge Mulkey said she was concerned that he would not follow court orders if released since he allegedly violated the court’s stay away order in the pending case.

All held defendants are to return to court at the end of June.

The judge released two defendants who are charged with new domestic violence cases and two who were brought in on bench warrants for failing to appear at their hearings.

A simple assault and attempted threats to do bodily harm defendant was given GPS monitoring and stay away orders. The other defendant is charged with simple assault, attempted threats and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon. He was ordered not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the complaining witness.

The two defendants brought in on bench warrants were released with orders to return to court in the next few weeks.

Finally, there was one defendant whose case could not be heard because they are in the hospital. Their case was continued to June 9.

Crime Alerts: June 8-9

Between 9:00 p.m. on June 8 and 9:00 a.m. on June 9, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 6:26 a.m. for a robbery at the intersection of Morris Road and Hunter Place, SE. Police are looking for two Black males wearing all black. The first suspect is between 15 and 18 years of age, wearing grey and black sneakers. The second suspect is approximately 20 years of age.

The second crime alert was sent at 2:32 a.m. for a shooting on the 1800 block of 41st Place, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

Judge Orders Transfer of Child Sex Abuse Defendant to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital

A DC Superior Court judge granted a defense attorney’s request to transfer his client from DC Jail to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.

The defendant is charged with second-degree child sexual abuse in a domestic violence case.

Following a preliminary screening, the defendant was found incompetent to stand trial.

During the June 8 hearing, Judge Jonathan Pittman ordered a full competency evaluation for him to take at the hospital.

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for July 8.

Will Lawrence and Lizzie Brennan wrote this article.

Child Sex Abuse Defendant Enters Guilty Plea

On June 8, a defendant in a child sex abuse case entered a guilty plea.

Aaron McCormick was initially charged with two counts of first-degree child sex abuse. He pleaded guilty to one count in exchange for the prosecution dropping the other count.

According to the proffer of facts, the 55-year-old defendant began sexually abusing a 13-year-old in September 2020, and the abuse continued until he was arrested the following December.

McCormick is facing a minimum sentence of seven-and-a-half years plus five years of supervised release, according to parties.

DC Superior Court Judge Jonathan Pittman scheduled McCormick to be sentenced on Aug. 17.

Lizzie Brennan and Will Lawrence wrote this article.

Murder Defendant to Remain at Hospital Following Petition for Civil Commitment

After learning that a petition for civil commitment has been filed, a DC Superior Court judge decided that a murder defendant who has been found unlikely to become competent to stand trial in the foreseeable future should remain held at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.

Alisa Randall, 33, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the stabbing of 59-year-old Ronald Jones Payne on July, 15, 2019.

Randall, 33, was arrested that same day and found incompetent to stand trial shortly afterward. She has been held at St. Elizabeth’s for nearly two years now.

In April, the prosecution reported they will not contest a finding that Randall is incompetent to stand trial and that “there is no substantial probability that she will not attain competence or make substantial progress toward that goal in the foreseeable future,” according to court documents.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for the District of Columbia decided they will be filing a petition for civil commitment. The prosecution asked that Randall keep receiving treatment at St. Elizabeth’s until a final order of commitment is entered.

During the June 8 hearing, Judge Neal Kravitz agreed to the request.

“[I] don’t think it’s safe for her to be released now or in the future,” he said.

The next mental observation hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2.

Mykala Jones and AsiaDee Williams wrote this article.

Judge Schedules Trial for Child Sex Abuse Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled domestic violence defendant charged with multiple sexual abuse offenses to go before a jury in October.

The defendant is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree child sexual abuse, second-degree child sexual abuse and contempt.

During the June 8 hearing, the prosecution said they plan to call 10 to 15 witnesses, two of whom are expert witnesses. The defense plans to call five to seven witnesses, one of whom is an expert witness.

Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled jury selection for Sept. 29 and 30 and set aside Oct. 1 through 20 for the trial. The judge also scheduled motion hearings for Sept. 1 through 3.

Mara Osterburg and Carlin Fisher wrote this article

Case Acquitted: Judge Grants Motion to Lift Murder Defendant’s Curfew

Tierra Posey was acquitted of all charges on March 20, 2024.

On June 7, a DC Superior Court judge granted a motion to lift the curfew of a murder defendant currently on pretrial release.

Tierra Posey is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the Jan. 6, 2020 shooting of 21-year-old Tia Carey on the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

Posey, 23, is released into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).

Defense attorney Kevann Gardner asked Judge Juilet McKenna to remove his client’s curfew and take her off of GPS monitoring.

Judge McKenna agreed to remove the curfew, but not the GPS.

Posey’s next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 3.

Mara Osterburg and AsiaDee Williams wrote this article.

Murder Defendant Scheduled to Go to Trial in 2022

On June 7, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a murder defendant to go to trial in February 2022.

Elhadji Ndiaye is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 21-year-old Travis Deyvon Ruth on the 2700 block of Jasper Street, SE, on Jan. 18, 2019.

Ndiaye, 22, is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, armed robbery, tampering with physical evidence, destruction of property less than $1,000 and obstruction of justice in his case.

Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled jury selection to take place on Feb. 16 and 17, 2022. She set aside Feb. 18 through March 3 for the trial.

The prosecution must give notice of any additional experts by Nov. 1. The defense must file their expert notice by Dec. 1.

Ndiaye’s next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2022.

Will Lawrence and Mykala Jones wrote this article.

Judge Holds Off Setting Jury Trial for Sex Abuse Defendant

On June 7, a DC Superior Court judge decided to hold off on scheduling a jury trial for a sexual abuse defendant.

The defendant is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse, burglary, kidnapping and robbery.

Judge Juilet McKenna decided she would wait to set trial dates because the defendant is currently awaiting sentencing in Maryland cases. D.C. Witness could not confirm the nature of his Maryland cases.

Judge McKenna scheduled another trial readiness hearing for Jan. 18, 2022.

Mara Osterburg and AsiaDee Williams wrote this article.

Documents: Police Investigate Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are currently offering a $25,000 reward for information related to a homicide that occurred on June 7.

At approximately 9:20 p.m. police responded to the 6200 block of Banks Place, NE, due to sounds of gunshots. Police found 47-year-old Carlos Singleton and he was pronounced dead due to gunshot wounds.

Tory Lysik wrote this article.

Crime Alerts: June 7-8

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 9:00 p.m. on June 7 and 9:00 a.m. on June 8.

The alert was sent at 9:45 p.m. on June 7 for a shooting investigation on the 6200 block of Banks Place, NE.

Police do not have a description of the suspect(s) thought to be involved in the incident.

Judge Holds Three Domestic Violence Defendants During Initial Hearings

During initial hearings on June 7, DC Superior Court Judge Shelly Mulkey held three out of seven domestic violence defendants.

In total, there were 27 defendants presented before the court. Seven of these cases were charged in domestic violence cases and two were charged with sex abuse cases.

Judge Mulkey held a woman who is charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm and contempt of court. The defendant began yelling and was removed from the hearing due to her behavior. The judge noted that the defendant was brought before her on May 10 and also had behavioral issues.

Since she was alleged to have violated a stay-away order in her pending domestic violence case, Judge Mulkey decided to hold the defendant pending her next hearing. She also ordered a forensic screening for the defendant.

A domestic violence defendant charged with attempted threats was also held. The defendant has one pending case and two cases for which he is on probation that all involve the same complaining witness.

Defense counsel requested that the judge not find probable cause, saying the alleged victim was apparently intoxicated at the time. Judge Mulkey did find probable cause, however, and decided to hold the defendant due to the number of cases all involving the same person.

The final defendant held is also charged with attempted threats. Defense counsel requested the judge not to find probable cause in this case, either, saying the alleged threats were made in front of the police, and they were not real threats as there was no intent behind them.

Judge Mulkey found probable cause in this case, as well. She said she found that he was likely to violate court conditions because he was on pretrial release in another pending domestic violence case at the time of his arrest.

All held defendants will return to court on June 22.

Judge Mulkey released an additional four domestic violence defendants. Their charges involve attempted second-degree cruelty to children, simple assault, destruction of property and second-degree theft.

Two of the defendants were given stay-away orders from the alleged victims, and two were given orders not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the alleged victims.

Finally, two sex abuse defendants were released by the judge. One of the defendants is charged with a new case involving sex abuse, and the other was brought in on two bench warrants for failing to appear at his hearings.

The domestic violence defendants will return to court on Dec. 13, and the sex abuse defendants will return to court on Sept. 9.

Judge Releases All But One Domestic Violence Defendant During Initial Hearings

On June 5, 22 defendants were brought before DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee for initial hearings.

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

One defendant was also brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear in court for a probation hearing in a closed domestic violence case. Judge Lee released the defendant in his new case but held him on the bench warrant so he could be brought before the calendar judge.

The defendants’ next hearings are scheduled for Dec. 10 for all new cases while the held defendant was scheduled to be seen on June 8 for his probation hearing.

This Post Marks a Rebirth for D.C. Witness

For the past six years we have worked to bring unprecedented transparency to the D.C. criminal justice system through a new model of criminal justice reporting. We have covered every homicide from act to resolution and gathered, verified and enhanced public data and told every story.

We have truly appreciated your support but were always plagued by “if only.” For us, “if only” meant if only D.C. Witness users could see the depth of our data. If only our website was not so clunky, if only we could bring even more clarity to the work we do and serve our audience to the extent we believe we are able.

Thanks to the incredibly generous support of the Google News Initiative and the Knight Foundation, this post signals the launch of our new website, the new database behind it and the evolution of our model for criminal justice transparency. Working with the incredible team at MindShift, we have taken all our ideas and will now bring them to you.

Our new site has

A totally redesigned interface – so you can more easily see the different reporting we do.
A better map with more data and information
A timeline so you can track the course of individual data
A data playground where you can dive deeper into our more than 200,000 data points
A new mobile site that is more navigable.

Over the next few months we will be fine tuning these features and adding more, like push notifications for new information on specific cases. Please let us know what you like and don’t about the new features so we can continue to improve.

As local and federal governments scramble to respond to the cries for criminal justice reform, they conveniently leave out the most important part – how are they going to be accountable? We have always believed accountability comes through transparency and you can’t fix what you can’t count.

We are here to do the counting, so you have the information to call to account our elected officials and civic agencies.

Cheers
Amos Gelb
Publisher

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