Parties Await Competency Findings for Defendant Accused of Stabbing Father

A DC Superior court judge continued a murder defendant’s mental observation hearing as parties await findings on if he is competent to stand trial.

Aaron Smith, 24, is charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing of his 60-year-old father, Edward Smith, on the 2100 block of 36th Place, SE, on Feb. 12.

The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) found him competent to stand trial in his misdemeanor cases, but Judge Milton Lee has previously said he does not want to apply those findings to his murder case. During the June 24 hearing, defense attorney Ronald Resetarits said the DBH has not yet come to a conclusion of whether Smith is competent to stand trial in the murder case.

Resetarits asked Judge Lee for more time to receive the competency report from the DBH and, once they do, decide if they want to dispute it. The prosecution did not oppose this, but Resetarits agreed to inform the prosecution in a timely manner on if they plan to dispute any competency findings.

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

Judge Pushes Trial Dates Earlier for Four Co-Defendants in Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled earlier trial dates for a homicide case with four co-defendants on June 23.

Stephon Evans, 21, Alonzo Brown, 21, Tavist Alston, 25, and Naquel Henderson, 22, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 22-year-old Michael Taylor on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE, on Jan. 12, 2019.

Their trial was previously scheduled to begin in May 2023, but the defense requested an earlier date during the June 22 hearing. Judge Juliet McKenna agreed to this request, setting aside Oct. 5 through Nov. 22, 2022, for jury selection and the trial.

A status hearing is set to take place for Dec 10.

The four defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault with intent to kill while armed.

Carlos Turner, 23, is also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with Taylor’s death. His case, which is awaiting indictment, was not heard. He is scheduled for a status hearing on Jan. 5, 2022.

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

Lizzie Brennan also wrote this article.

Document: Arrest Made in Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in a homicide case.

At about 4:31 p.m. police responded to the 100 block of Sheridan Street, NE, due to reports of a shooting. An adult male was found and pronounced dead on scene.

The victim has been identified as 39-year-old Bret Desmarteau. Police have arrested 38-year-old James Antonio Harper on June 23 in relation to the homicide. Harper is being charged with second degree murder while armed.

Document: Homicide on the 700 Block of 16th Street, NE

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occured on June 23.

At about 4:23 p.m. police responded to the 700 block of 16^th Street, NE, due to reports of a shooting. A Black male victim was found and pronounced dead on scene, according to the press release.

The victim has been identified as 50-year-old Mitchell Smith.

Document: Homicide on the 2200 Block of 13th Street

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on June 23.

At about 5:35 p.m. police responded to the 2200 block of 13^th Street, NE, due to reports of a stabbing. An adult male victim was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to the press release.

The victim has been identified as 43-year-old Ferrell Leonard Taylor.

Crime Alerts: June 23-24

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on June 23 and 9:00 a.m. on June 24.

A crime alert was sent out at 12:27 a.m. due to reports of a robbery on 14th and Church Street. The suspect was seen on a blue scooter.

A second crime alert was sent out at 2:02 a.m. on June 24 due to a robbery in the 1100 block of Vermont Avenue, NW. Police are looking for a Black male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants.

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.

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