Judge Continues Hearing for Sex Abuse Defendant for Competency Restoration

A DC Superior Court judge continued a mental observation hearing to give a sex abuse defendant more time to undergo competency restoration treatment.

The 41-year-old defendant is charged with simple assault and misdemeanor sex abuse of three different individuals on separate occasions. According to court documents,, the defendant allegedly grabbed two victims’ buttocks and allegedly punched another individual in the face, pushing the individual into the street.

During the March 24 proceedings, Judge Jonathan Pittman read the Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) competency report, which determined that the defendant is still incompetent.

However, the report stated there is substantial probability that the defendant will gain competency with continued treatment at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for April 26.

Document: Two Teenagers Arrested for Murder

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested two girls ages 13 and 15 for felony murder and armed carjacking.

At around 4:31 p.m. on March 23, officers responded to the 1200 block of Van Street, SE for the report of a motor vehicle accident. There, they found 66 year-old Mohammad Anwar suffering from life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

“The Detectives’ investigation on the scene revealed that the suspects assaulted the victim with a taser while carjacking the victim which resulted in a motor vehicle accident,” the press release states.

Crime Alerts: March 23-24

Between 9:00 p.m. on March 23 and 9:00 a.m. on March 24, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 3:24 a.m. for a shooting on the 4100 block of 18th Street, NE. Police are looking for an older black Ford Bronco.

An alert was sent at 1:43 a.m. for a robbery with a gun on the unit block of M Street, SE. Police are looking for a Black male, 5’6″ to 5’9″ in height, wearing all black. The suspect was last seen heading west on M Street.

The final alert was sent at 11:57 p.m. for an unspecified investigation on the 2300 block of Skyland Place, SE. Police are looking for five Black males. The first suspect is wearing copper colored Nike Air Foamposites. The second suspect is wearing all black, and the police do not have descriptions for the remaining three suspects.

Judge Modifies Murder Defendant’s Curfew

A DC Superior Court judge decided to modify a murder defendant’s curfew, however, she wouldn’t allow the defendant to switch addresses.

Dijon Williams, along with his brother Daivion Williams, are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged roles in the death of 30-year-old Nurudeen Thomas. Thomas was fatally shot during an alleged robbery on July 21, 2020, on the 4100 block of 14 Street, NW.

Currently, the two brothers live in Georgia. After being arrested, they were released into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). They have been put on home confinement with GPS monitoring at a family home.

Defense attorney David Knight asked Judge Danya Dayson to modify his 21-year-old client’s release conditions as the occupants of the home need to relocate. The attorney asked for Judge Dayson to move Dijon’s home confinement to a different address.

Knight also asked that the defendant’s release conditions be lightened, saying Dijon was having a difficult time “dealing with these cumbersome conditions.”

Judge Dayson denied the request to move to another place. However, the judge did modify his 24-hour home confinement to a curfew from 6 p.m.-7a.m.

Dijon and Daivion are scheduled for another hearing on April 1.

McKenzie Beard wrote this article.

Judge Finds Probable Cause in Case of 3 Teen Murder Defendants

A DC Superior Court judge found that a murder case with three teenage defendants has enough evidence to go to trial after a three-day preliminary hearing.

The co-defendants, 17-year-old Nelfy Hernandez, 16-year-old Trey Prillerman and 19-year-old Deandre Levy, are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged roles in the death of 17-year-old Taijhon Wyatt, Jr.

The three are accused of shooting into a crowd of juveniles from inside of a vehicle on the 5500 block of 9th Street, NW on Aug. 10, 2020.

During the March 23 hearing, Judge Danya Dayson found that, based on video surveillance evidence, witness reports and a time-stamped speeding ticket, the Toyota Corolla recovered by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was likely the vehicle used in the shooting.

MPD officers say that the car was unique due to missing hubcaps on the passenger side. The department said the car was stolen from an Uber Eats driver shortly before the shooting.

Instagram and text messages placed Hernandez and Prillerman together at the time the vehicle was stolen. Levy was not present for the theft.

Judge Dayson found probable cause that all of the defendants were in the vehicle at the time of the shooting based on cell phone data and phone records that place them in the neighborhood at the time of the crime and witness accounts.

In addition, Dayson found that a witness’s testimony, which identified the defendants as being on the scene of the crime, was credible despite the defense questioning the witness’s reliability.

During a previous hearing, defense attorney Elizabeth Weller said she believed the witness could be changing their story to reduce charges pending against them.

According to Judge Dayson, the motive to incriminate the defendants in an attempt to reduce the witness’s own charges is not present in this case.

GPS data also placed the witness in the car with Prillerman prior to the homicide, according to court documents.

Based on the nature of the offense, the access to guns in the community and the discussion of guns beforehand via text, the judge did not find that any conditions of release would assure the community’s safety.

The defense argued that the teenagers, who are being tried as adults, should be able to await trial at their homes under confinement orders and GPS supervision.

However, outstanding arrest warrants in Prince Georges County and Montgomery County, Md. from previous juvenile offenses make Hernandez and Levy ineligible for home detention.

The defendants’ next hearing is scheduled for March 31.

McKenzie Beard wrote this article.

Sex Abuse Defendant Released to Outpatient Facility

A sex abuse defendant whose case got a DC statute invalidated has spent over a decade in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC psychiatric institution. But on March 23, a DC Superior Court judge released him to an outpatient treatment facility.

The defendant was charged with first-degree child sex abuse in 2009. A year later it was deemed unlikely that he would become competent to stand trial in the foreseeable future.

The defendant was then committed to St. Elizabeth’s in 2011 under the Sexual Psychopath Act (SPA) until the law was invalidated last year due to the defense’s successful efforts to challenge it.

During the March 23 hearing, Judge Danya Dayson read a Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) report that recommended the defendant be released into an outpatient treatment facility. The report recommended that the defendant be placed in residential housing run by the Department on Disability Services (DDS).

The report further stated that DDS would submit a treatment plan and regulations the defendant would need to follow while at the housing.

Judge Dayson ordered that the defendant follow every regulation DDS lays out for him and stay away from four victims and any children under the age of 18.

Judge Dayson also recommended that a status hearing be set six months out since the case isn’t dismissed, but, at this time, it is not moving forward.

The next hearing is scheduled to occur on Sept. 23.

Document: Arrests Made in January Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a 17 year-old suspect for murder.

At around 8:54 a.m. on Jan. 25, officers responded to the 1400 block of Good Hope Road, SE for the report of a shooting.

There, they found three men suffering from gunshot wounds. Two were taken to a hospital. Twenty-two year-old Edward Wade, however, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Two other men also went to local hospitals with non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

“Through the detectives’ investigation, it was determined that one of the victims that sought treatment at a local hospital was a suspect in this case” a press release states.

That same day, Terrance Oxner, 21, was arrested for first-degree murder while armed.

On March 22, 17 year-old Aaron Adgerson was also arrested for first-degree murder while armed. He is being charged as an adult.

The case remains under investigation.

Crime Alerts: March 22-23

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has not sent out any additional crime alerts since their last post at 2:17 a.m. on March 22.

Judge Reopens Detention Hearing for Homicide Case

On March 19, a DC Superior Court judge accepted the defense’s argument to reopen a detention hearing due to new evidence that surfaced since the last hearing.

Thirty-four-year-old Saeve Evans is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of Kareem Ware on May 2, 2009. He is also charged with robbery while armed and kidnapping while armed.

Evans is already serving a sentence of a little over 4.5 years for unlawful possession of a firearm in a different case. He was also charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 16-year-old Breyona McMillian, but a jury acquitted him of the charge.

Defense attorneys Stephanie Reaves and James King argued that the new evidence that has come to light casts doubt against the prosecution’s argument. The lawyers say the new evidence could allow for their client’s detention at DC Jail to be reconsidered.

Judge Neal Kravitz agreed that it would be better to open the detention hearing to have a clearer analysis of the information.

Judge Danya Dayson, the case judge, will be consulting with Judge Kravitz to decide on a hearing date.

Both Judge Kravitz and King said they hope Judge Dayson can preside over the reopening because she has more knowledge of the case.

In the meantime, Evans will remain held at DC jail.

Eileen Chen wrote this article.

Judge Continues Sex Abuse Hearing For Plea Negotiations

At the defense’s request, a DC Superior Court judge continued a March 22 hearing in a sex abuse case, so parties could have more time to discuss a possible plea deal.

The 31-year-old defendant is charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse by force, threat to kidnap or injure a person, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault on a police officer while armed. He is accused of pushing the victim onto a bed and sexually threatening her before eventually letting her go after she pleaded with him.

Defense attorney Jon Armstrong told Judge Milton Lee that he would need extra time not only to discuss the plea offer with the prosecution, but also his client since communication at the DC Jail is more difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Judge Lee scheduled the next hearing for April 12.

Sarah Gebrengus wrote this article.

Judge Continues Preliminary Hearing for Homicide Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge continued a March 22 hearing for a homicide defendant.

Bratrell Hawkins, 28, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 26-year-old Xavier Tate on the 1400 block of 3rd Street, SW on Jan. 5, 2020.

The prosecution said she wanted to discuss matters regarding the exchange of information about the case with Judge Michael Ryan.

After a private discussion, Judge Ryan decided to continue the hearing, which will ultimately decide if the case has enough evidence to go to trial, to May 25.

Sasha Ridenour wrote this article.

Judge Schedules Second Set of Trial Dates for Homicide Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled another set of trial dates for a homicide defendant after the first the original dates were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brian Davis, 55, is charged with conspiracy and first-degree murder while armed in the death of 53-year-old Mawuli Kocuvie. On Oct. 28, 2017, Kocuvie’s body was found on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE.

During the March 22 proceedings, parties said they expected the trial to take about two weeks.

The prosecution told Judge Juliet McKenna that one of their witnesses, the victim’s next of kin, would be flying in from out of the country.

Judge McKenna said, since the trial will happen in late 2022, parties will have plenty of time to resolve this issue among themselves. She emphasized that, because of the backlog, the court would be unlikely to grant a continuance for any small issues that would unnecessarily delay trial.

The trial is scheduled to occur July 18 through Aug. 3, 2022.

The trial is currently double booked in an occupied courtroom, but Judge McKenna said she expects more courtrooms to open up, which would allow trials to be shifted around.

Judge Mckenna also scheduled another trial readiness hearing for April 15, 2022, to allow time to follow up with counsel’s progression and make any needed adjustments.

Court documents indicate that Kocuvie was struck in the head with a mallet and choked with a bungee cord.

Another defendant, 62-year-old Samuel Davis, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with Kocuvie’s death. He is currently waiting to be sentenced.

Judge Schedules Motion Hearing for Homicide Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a motion hearing for a homicide defendant waiting to go before a jury.

Tondrick Murphy, 30, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 26-year-old Marquis Jones. On Oct. 6, 2018, Jones was found on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

During the March 22 proceeding, counsel agreed to stick with the previously scheduled trial dates of April 11 through 29, 2022.

Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled a motion hearing for Nov. 4.

Brennan Fiske wrote this article.

Sex Abuse Defendant Accepts Guilty Plea

On March 22, a sex abuse defendant entered a guilty plea and will remain held as he waits to be sentenced.

Corey Beander, 35, was originally charged with two counts of third-degree sex abuse and kidnapping. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor sexual abuse, which carries a maximum penalty of one year, and third-degree sex abuse, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.

Beander must register as a sex offender for 10 years after his release.

According to the proffer of facts, Beander entered a gas station convenience store, where he approached the victim with his pants lowered and tried to grab and harass her.

He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor attempted possession of a prohibited weapon from another case. The prosecution agreed to dismiss a theft charge from 2020.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee scheduled Beander to be sentenced on June 9.

Sarah Gebrengus wrote this article.

Document: Homicide in Trinidad

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that happened during the early hours of March 22.

At around 1:51 a.m., officers responded to the 1200 block of Orren Street, NE for the sounds of gunshots.

There, they found 28 year-old Ervin Henderson, Jr. suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on scene.

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