The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 9:00 p.m. on March 30 and 9:00 a.m. on March 31.
The alert was sent at 9:36 p.m. for a robbery on the 900 block of Rhode Island Avenue, NE.
Police are looking for three Black males in hooded sweatshirts. One of the suspects is 5’11” in height with a thin build and armed with a gun. The suspect was last seen headed east towards 10th Street.
A DC Superior Court judge granted an emergency motion for a defendant’s transfer to Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.
In March 2020, Joshua Ellis Massaquoi pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, carrying a pistol during a crime of violence and accessory to second-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Michael Francis Taylor on June 22, 2008, on the 600 block of Farragut St, NW.
The 33-year-old defendant was released into home confinement as he waits to be sentenced. However, on March 25, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. That same day, a medical alert was issued. D.C. Witness is not sure if the two are related.
During the March 30 hearing, Judge Hiram E. Puig-Lugo ordered a preliminary screening to determine Massaquoi’s competency.
The judge granted the defense’s unopposed emergency motion for Massaquoi to be transferred to Saint Elizabeth’s
A mental observation hearing is scheduled for April 8.
In February 2020, a jury found 34-year-old Mason Binion guilty of first-degree murder while armed in Taylor’s death.
John Littlejohn says he’ll never forget the Saturday night he sat on a church’s steps high on PCP.
“The police were making patrols in the neighborhood,” he recalls. “I was a dealer and a user.”
This was the early 1980s, when abuse of this powerful hallucinogen was reportedly rising in cities including DC.
And the drug has not lost its impact on the city’s criminal justice system, as many were reminded in 2015 when a woman in her thirties was fatally struck by a pick-up truck. The driver allegedly tested positive for PCP.
In fact, Commander John Haines of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Narcotics and Special Investigations Division (NSID) said it is not uncommon to come across PCP daily in the District when D.C. Witness spoke to him last year.
As for Littlejohn, he went back to that church the next Sunday. And he kept going. And he kept dealing.
“I was asking the priest to help me – stop me from dealing,” he said. “But the habit was so large, I couldn’t get rid of it.”
Littlejohn was eventually arrested for possession of PCP.
The year was 1983. He found himself facing 15 to 30 years in prison. However, the judge gave him two years of probation instead.
Littlejohn says the police saved his life the day they arrested him. He says it was the last day he ever dealt. He has since been able to get sober and have the charge taken off his record.
“I carry my bible, you know?” he said. “I knew the road was going to be long and the road was going to be tough.”
But while Littlejohn’s case may have run its course nearly four decades ago, PCP’s presence in DC’s criminal justice system remains despite the fact that, according to national statistics from the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ), in 2015 only 2.4 percent of people aged 12 or older have used PCP in their lifetime.
“It’s very unique to DC and a couple other parts of the country,” said Dr. Regina LaBelle, program director of the Addiction and Public Policy Initiative at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown Law.
PCP, which belongs to the dissociative category of hallucinogens, can cause users to feel disconnected from their environment and even their own bodies, according to a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) report. It was developed as an anesthetic in the 1950s, only to get discontinued and emerge as a street drug in the 1960s.
One hundred and seventy-one of the defendants who were brought before judges at the DC Superior Court for initial hearings from June 16 to Oct. 16, 2020, had a controlled substance charge filed against them, according to D.C. Witness data. Thirty-two of them picked up a PCP-involved charge. That’s about 18 percent.
PCP was the second most common drug with which people were charged during this time. Only cocaine showed up more often.
Twenty-five of the defendants were charged in felony cases.
Seven were charged in misdemeanor cases. Two of the felony cases – one involving an unlawful possession of liquid PCP charge and the other involving a possession of a controlled substance charge – have been dismissed by prosecutors. Aside from one defendant whose case status D.C. Witness could not verify, the others’ cases remain open.
Most of the alleged offenses happened in Ward 6.
The average age of the defendants was 41 years-old. Their ages ranged from 28 years-old to 64 years-old, data shows. This is excluding six defendants, whose dates of birth could not be found.
“It seems that a lot of these drugs are recycled from one generation to the next,” said Dr. Edwin Chapman, who has spent over four decades practicing in DC with a specialization in internal medicine and addiction medicine. “They may appear for a time, and then, for some reason, become out of vogue, and then show up again.”
There are several types of charges related to controlled substances, and some of these defendants were charged with more than one of them related to PCP.
The most common PCP charge in these cases was unlawful possession of liquid PCP. Over half of the defendants picked it up. The charge is a felony in DC and has been since 2010.
“This was legislation enacted by the DC City Council in efforts to stop the flow and use of liquid PCP in the city,” said Commander Haines.
From June 16 – Oct. 16, 2020, eight defendants were charged with possession of a controlled substance. Nine were charged with either possession with intent to distribute or distribution of a controlled substance.
“We do see PCP, particularly among the homeless population,” said Dr. Chapman. “It’s cheap. I think that’s probably the key component, the fact that it’s a relatively cheap buy.”
A 2001 study from the National Drug Intelligence Center estimated a PCP-laced cigarette or joint to cost around $5-$30. The study estimated that a gram of powder or single tablet costs between $20-$30. Finally, the study estimated the drug to cost $125-$600 per ounce in liquid form.
According to D.C. Witness research, one of the 32 defendants was listed as having no fixed address in court documents. Another defendant’s court document had nothing listed for his address.
But even if a defendant is not charged with a drug offense, allegations of drug use may still be relevant to their case.
That 2015 homicide case opened when Robert Paris was charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly striking and killing 32-year-old Tomika Early with his pick-up truck while she was changing a flat tire at the intersection of Suitland Parkway and Stanton Road, SE on July 14.
Police said he had been drinking at the time of the homicide. Not long after, the prosecution said that Paris, who was 52 years old at the time, tested positive for PCP when he was arrested.
Paris pleaded out on charges of voluntary manslaughter and driving under the influence. He was sentenced to serve 10 years for the manslaughter charge plus five months for the DUI.
During his sentencing hearing, an apologetic Paris said he would take Early’s place if he could, The Washington Post reported.
“Because of the behaviors associated with PCP, they [users] definitely have a tendency to end up in the criminal justice system,” said Dr. Chapman.
Sean Thompson-El, a rehabilitation specialist at mental health nonprofit Community Connections, Inc., has seen a lot of PCP throughout his career.
“It just amazed me because that drug is just too strong and too dangerous that people still experiment with it,” he said.
Symptoms of short-term use can include delusions and hallucinations, according to a 2016 Surgeon General report. Consequences of long-term use can include problems with speech, thinking and memory. The drug has also been linked to self-injury.
“Large doses may cause you to be very suspicious and not trust others,” an article published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine states. “You might even hear voices that are not there. As a result, you may act strangely or become aggressive and violent.”
A 2020 report prepared by the criminal justice reform nonprofit Council for Court Excellence (CCE) on behalf of the Office of the DC Auditor shed light on how substance abuse problems are addressed for DC’s criminal defendants.
The report states that “only a tiny fraction (just over 1 percent) of the incarcerations associated with substance use disorder (SUD) in the 4,602 cases analyzed by CCE received SUD services before, during, and after incarceration.”
The report also found that it took an average of 33 days to connect people, who have been arrested for substance abuse crimes, to treatment options once they were released.
A report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated, during 2015 – 2017, 11.7 percent of people aged 12 and older in DC had an SUD in the past year, which is higher than the national average of 7.5 percent.
Some people who find themselves in trouble with the law may have alternative options available to them, including the Superior Court Drug Intervention Program. It’s more commonly known as drug court.
Diversion opportunities for people in the drug court include Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA) and Deferred Sentencing Agreements (DSA.) Felony defendants in these courts can receive an Amended Sentencing Agreement (ASA), which allows their charges to be reduced to misdemeanors if they successfully complete certain requirements.
Defendants with PCP-involved cases from mid-June to mid-October have not received sentences, and two case have been dismissed, according to D.C. Witness data.
“The problem is that when you see various drugs showing up – like PCP, or amphetamines, or cocaine or opioids – you’re really dealing with an underlying community problem that has to do with anxiety and depression,” Dr. Chapman said. “And that anxiety and depression seems to correlate with economic depression. So I look at these drugs, not necessarily as individual drugs but as a symptom of something larger that’s going on in the community.”
Andrea Keckley and Maansi Srivastava wrote this article.
A DC Superior Court judge released a felony domestic violence defendant after he accepted a global plea offer.
Shaqques Johnson was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and armed kidnapping for barricading a person in an apartment with an axe. He pleaded down to a charge of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 15 months, all but five of which were suspended. He was also sentenced to 15 days for simple assault and 30 days for assault on a police officer in two misdemeanor cases.
Because he spent about seven months at DC Jail as a pretrial detainee and is receiving credit for time served, Johnson has already completed his sentence.
During the March 30 sentencing hearing, the prosecution acknowledged Johnson’s mental health and alcohol abuse issues. However, the prosecution is concerned that he is a flight risk and danger to the community due to his prior criminal history.
The prosecution also said they do not feel Johnson can be trusted to engage in treatment programs and felt a longer period of incarceration would be appropriate, along with treatment recommended by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA.).
Johnson’s defense attorney, Teresa Kleiman, said Johnson has accepted blame multiple times and has been sober for the seven months he has spent incarcerated. She also said the victim had called her three times of their own volition to express that they wanted Johnson to receive treatment and were not pushing for incarceration.
Judge Juliet McKenna said she does not believe that ordering Johnson to serve more time would be beneficial. She did issue a stay away/no contact order.
Judge McKenna also denied the defense’s request to sentence Johnson under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which would have effectively sealed his case after he completes his requirements.
Conditions of Johnson’s probation include: completion of a mental health evaluation and following through with any treatment, enrollment and completion of an anger management course as recommended. Johnson also should undergo alcohol and drug testing as recommended by CSOSA.
As part of the global plea offer, one of Johnson’s misdemeanor cases was dismissed.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
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.
A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for a domestic violence case.
The defendant is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.
Defense attorney Jacqueline Williams and the prosecution requested a preliminary hearing date.
Judge Milton Lee scheduled one for April 14. In the meantime the defendant will remain held at DC Jail.
Brennan Fiske wrote this article.
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.
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.
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.
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.
