Homicide Case Awaits Competency Evaluations

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled another status hearing to allow time for a homicide defendant to undergo competency evaluations.

Matthew Walker is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 32-year-old David Remen. On Feb. 14, 2019, 22-year-old Walker allegedly shot into an establishment located on the 1700 block of Hamlin Street, NE. Remen and another victim were shot multiple times. The other victim survived, but Remen succumbed to his injuries.

During the April 12 proceedings, the prosecution requested that all of Walker’s felony cases be put on the same schedule. They also requested that the pending competency assessments be applied to all of his pending cases.

The prosecution said both parties are retaining independent evaluations and the status of the competency proceedings are pending independent experts’ availability.

The prosecution noted that there were reports that Walker had sustained a brain injury, so neurological tests to determine competency have to be completed but cannot be done over video.

The prosecution asked Judge Neal Kravitz to set a hearing for a few months out to allow time for parties to get records and for the competency evaluations to be completed.

Judge Kravitz scheduled a felony status conference for July 12, and another for Sept. 7. He also said that he could put in an order to have all of Walker’s pending cases be scheduled together to make proceedings easier.

The next hearing is scheduled for July 12.

Judge Releases 6 Domestic Violence Defendants During Initial Hearings

On April 12, a DC Superior Court judge released all six defendants charged in domestic violence cases.

In total, there were 36 cases presented before the court. An additional defendant, who was in the hospital, so the case could not be heard.

Judge Heide Herrmann issued stay-away orders for all six defendants as a condition of release and ordered them to call the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) once a week.

One of the defendants is charged with simple assault. The prosecution requested for this defendant to be held considering a past conviction and a pending case. However, Judge Herrmann denied the hold request because the case that the prosecution was concerned about was a conviction from 2005 for which the defendant did not receive any jail time.

The prosecution also requested for two other defendants to be held considering that they have pending domestic violence cases involving the same victims whom they were ordered to stay away from.

Judge Herrmann pointed out, however, that the prosecution is not charging these defendants with contempt for violating a condition of release. Judge Herrmann released both of these defendants and issued stay-away orders in their new cases.

The other three defendants have charges that include simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon.

All but one of the defendants are scheduled to return to court on Oct. 18. The other defendant is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 19.

Judge Releases Domestic Violence Defendant from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital

A DC Superior Court judge released a domestic violence defendant from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.

The defendant is charged with attempted misdemeanor sex abuse, simple assault and contempt.

In December of 2020, he was found incompetent to stand trial and sent to the hospital for inpatient competency restoration treatment.

During an April 12 mental observation hearing, Judge Rainey Brandt read a Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) report that stated that the defendant is currently competent to proceed and inpatient hospitalization is not needed at this time.

Defense attorney Jason Kalafat requested his client’s release from St Elizabeth’s. The prosecution agreed with the request, but said the defendant should be placed under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).

Judge Brandt agreed to put him under HISP and ordered him to wear a GPS monitoring device. She also ordered him to stay away from the victim.

A review hearing is scheduled for April 13.

Sarah Gebrengus wrote this article.

Judge Continues Status Hearing for Homicide Defendants

A DC Superior Court judge continued a status hearing for two homicide defendants.

Malik Coles, 24, and Duan Garmany, 22, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 28-year-old Christopher Payne on June 30, 2019, on the 2100 block of 15th Street, NW.

Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled the status hearing for Sept. 7.

The prosecution said a plea deal was offered. The defense has not replied.

This case has not been scheduled for a jury trial yet, and Judge Kravitz could not say for sure when the court would be able to start scheduling more jury trials. However, he said that by fall there would be a better idea of courtroom availability to schedule more trials for defendants.

The two defendants are also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm in this case.

Sasha Ridenour wrote this article.

Judge Schedules a Status Hearing for a Homicide Case Pending Indictment

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled another status hearing to allow time for a homicide defendant to be indicted.

Wesley Scott is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 28-year-old David Young. On April 3, 2020 Young was found on the 3500 block of 22nd Street, SE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. A minor victim was also shot during the incident but survived.

During the April 12 hearing, the prosecution requested a new status hearing date as parties await a grand jury decision.

Michael Benbow, 18, was also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with this homicide, but was killed in an April 1 shooting while on pretrial release. No arrests have been made in connection with his death at this time.

Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled one for Sept. 9.

Document: Traffic Fatality in Northwest, DC

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a traffic fatality that happened on April 9 at the intersection of 2nd Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

A preliminary investigation revealed that at around 7:30 p.m., a bicyclist and a 2012 Kia Sorrento were traveling westbound on Massachusetts Avenue, NW. At the same time, on the operator of a 2020 Honda Civic was traveling west on the same block. The Honda struck the rear of the Kia and the bicyclist at the same time.

“The Kia then entered into the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and 2^nd Street, NW, striking a 2013 Ford Van the was traveling north on 2^nd Street, NW,” the press release states. “The Honda then struck a 2015 Dodge Durango, that was traveling north in the same block before coming to final rest.”

The driver of the Honda and the driver and passenger of the Ford van were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The bicyclist, whose identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification, was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Document: Fifteen-Year-Old Arrested for Murder

A 15-year-old boy was arrested for murder in connection with the stabbing of a 16-year-old boy.

According to a press release, an investigation by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives revealed the homicide to be domestic in nature.

At around 12:49 p.m. on April 10, officers responded to the 3500 Block of Jay Street, NE for the report of a stabbing.

There, they found 16 year-old Marquette Galloway suffering from a stab wound. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

The suspect was arrested for second-degree murder while armed the next day.

Crime Alerts: April 11-12

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts between 8:00 p.m. on April 11 and 9:00 a.m. on April 12.

The most recent alert was sent at 8:52 p.m. for a shooting investigation on the 2100 block of Maryland Avenue, NE. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s) in this case.

The second alert was sent at 8:44 p.m. for a robbery on the 800 block of Quincy Street, NW. Police are looking for three Black males armed with guns and wearing all black. They were last seen driving a white Hyundai Sonata with unknown tags.

Judge Holds 2 Domestic Abuse Defendants During Initial Hearings

During initial hearings on April 9, DC Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nolan held two domestic violence defendants at the DC Jail.

In total, there were 23 cases presented before the court. Six of these cases were domestic violence-related and one was a sex abuse case.

Judge Nolan held a male domestic violence defendant who is charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm, simple assault, unlawful entry and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Defense counsel asked the judge to not find probable cause, saying that the defendant said, “I would never stab you,” which could not be construed as a threat. He also said it is not clear whether the defendant had a key to the apartment, or if he was allowed to be there.

The prosecution asked for the judge to hold the defendant, noting his prior 2017 felony conviction of assault with a dangerous weapon for which he is still on probation.

Judge Nolan found probable cause and decided to hold the defendant.

He said he did not feel like there were conditions that he could fashion that would protect the community.

Another male domestic violence defendant is held on charges of simple assault. The prosecution said there are allegations that the defendant strangled the victim and asked for a hold citing a simple assault conviction from 2020 that involved the same victim.

Defense counsel requested the defendant be released on GPS monitoring, but Judge Nolan said he was concerned he would not follow the court’s orders since he already had an order not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the victim as a part of his probation requirements.

Both held defendants have their next hearings scheduled for April 27, and they were both given stay-away orders from the alleged victims.

The four domestic abuse defendants released by Judge Nolan have charges that include simple assault, destruction of property and contempt. All defendants were given stay-away orders and told to come back to court in October. Two of the defendants were additionally ordered to get GPS monitoring devices installed.

Judge Nolan also released a defendant who is charged with sex abuse, attempted sex abuse and lewd, indecent or obscene acts. The defendant was told to call the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) once a week, and his next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 15.

Judge Sentences Domestic Violence Defendant Under Youth Rehabilitation Act

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a domestic violence defendant to two years of probation under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which will effectively seal his case once he completes his requirements.

The defendant pleaded guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon back in January.

He “is the reason that the Youth Act was created,” said defense attorney Sylvia Smith. “He is young, he made a mistake and he doesn’t deserve to be branded by a scarlet letter with a felony conviction on his record this young,”

Judge Michael O’Keefe sentenced the 22-year-old defendant to 18 months, all of which were suspended, plus 24 months of supervised probation.

Conditions of his probation include registering as a gun offender, completing a mental health assessment, participating in individual and grief counseling, being employed or seeking employment, taking a substance abuse assessment, refraining from the use of drugs or alcohol and taking anger management classes.

He will also have to complete the GED program he is currently enrolled in and do 90 hours of community service.

The defendant was initially charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrested the defendant outside his relative’s home on Oct. 6, 2020, after receiving reports of shots fired into the house where he was living at the time, according to the prosecution’s proffer of facts.

On the night of the incident, witnesses reported that the young man had gotten into a physical altercation with another person, who was also staying at the house.

When was asked to leave the home, surveillance footage played during the hearing shows the defendant turning back towards the house and firing five shots at the house from over the front yard’s fence.

No one was injured.

During the hearing, the prosecution recommend a suspended sentence with no time, given the defendant’s age, clean criminal record and perfect compliance with his pretrial release conditions.

If the defendant is able to complete the conditions of his probation before the two-year period is up, Judge O’Keefe said that he could be a candidate for early release from probation.

McKenzie Beard wrote this article.

All but One Homicide in March Involved Gun Violence

Twelve homicides happened in DC during the month of March, three less than the previous month.

Almost all of the victims were killed in shootings. The one exception was Mohammad Anwar, who was allegedly killed in the process of a carjacking on March 24 on the 1200 block of Van Street, SE.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, an on-scene investigation found that the suspects allegedly assaulted the victim with a taser, which caused an accident.

Anwar was pronounced dead at an area hospital. Two teenage girls, ages 13 and 15, were apprehended that same day.

At 66-years-old, Anwar was the oldest of March’s homicide victims. The youngest was 18-year-old Isaiah Armstead, who was shot to death on the 1200 block of Irving Street, NE on March 13.

The average age of the victims was about 31.

According to D.C. Witness data, Wards 4 and 7 had one homicide, Ward 5 had two, Ward 6 had three and Ward 8 had five.

Andrea Keckley wrote this article.

Defense Requests Time to Review Alleged Sex Abuser’s Motions

A DC Superior Court judge granted a defense attorney’s request to continue a mental observation hearing, so he could have more time to review two motions his client recently filed on his own behalf.

The defendant is charged with armed kidnapping, first-degree sexual abuse while armed with a dangerous weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon. He allegedly committed these crimes on Sept. 23, 2012.

On March 23, the defendant filed a motion to replace his attorney, Andrew Ain. In it, he wrote that he and his lawyer are “unable to work together.”

The next day, he filed another motion in which he appears to ask that the prosecution re-test DNA evidence in his case “until a conclusive result can be established.”

The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) found the defendant competent to stand trial in February, but the defendant contested the findings.

He was seen by an independent doctor. According to DC Courts, there are plans for the doctor to see the defendant again in order to give a report on his competency.

Judge Dayna Dayson did not give an opinion on the defendant’s competency during the April 9 hearing, but scheduled the next mental observation hearing for Sept. 9 to give parties time to receive all evidence and review the motions.

The recent motions are two of eight that the defendant has filed on his own behalf throughout the course of his case. Last July, D.C. Witness reported that the defendant wrote a letter-writing campaign to the court to argue for his incompetence to stand trial. He wrote five letters to the judge.

During a hearing at that time, the prosecution said his letter-writing campaign, in which he argued for his case’s dismissal, proves that he is able to understand the case.

Judge Michael Ryan said the staff at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, noticed that Evans can purport his behavior when he wants to comply with treatment.

Sarah Gebrengus wrote this article.

Judge Holds 2 Domestic Violence Defendants During Initial Hearings

On April 8, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nolan heard 29 cases during initial hearings. He released 26 defendants and held three at DC Jail.

There were a total of four domestic violence cases presented before Judge Nolan. Of these cases, he held two defendants at the jail.

Judge Nolan held a male domestic violence defendant who is charged with simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm, obstruction of justice and contempt. The defendant was also brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear at his hearing in a pending domestic violence case that involves the same complaining witness.

The prosecution requested a hold because the defendant allegedly threatened to kill the victim and her child if she called the police.

Judge Nolan decided to hold the defendant, citing the pending case in which the defendant allegedly violated a stay-away order.

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for April 27.

Judge Nolan also held Malik Lewis who was convicted of simple assault and violating a Civil Protection Order (CPO) in two domestic violence cases. The defendant allegedly failed to appear for a show cause hearing and had not reported to the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) after being convicted in November 2020.

Judge Nolan decided to hold Lewis because he has demonstrated that he can’t comply with his release conditions and has been loss of contact for a long time. The defendant was held without bail until his next hearing on April 13.

Judge Nolan released two domestic violence defendants. Their charges include violation of a Temporary Protection Order (TPO), unlawful entry of private property and simple assault. One of the defendants was brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear at his hearing.

The bench warrant defendant will return to court on April 13, and the other defendant will return to court on Oct. 14.

Judge Sets Hearing in Murder Case

A convicted murder defendant’s newly appointed defense attorney asked to continue an April 8 hearing, so that she could have more time to review the case.

In Feb. 2020, a jury found 34-year-old Mason Binion guilty of first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 21-year-old Michael Francis Taylor on June 22, 2008, on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW.

The new attorney, Quo Judkins, requested another status hearing in 30 days to allow time to file any necessary motions and familiarize herself with the case prior to moving forward.

Judge John Campbell scheduled a status hearing for May 4.

Joshua Massaquoi, who was also charged in the case, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, carrying a pistol during a crime of violence, and accessory to second-degree murder.

Massaquoi is scheduled for a mental observation hearing on April 30.

Victor Carvajal was also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the homicide, but his case was dismissed the day before opening statements.

Crime Alerts: April 8-9

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 5:00 p.m. on April 8 and 9:00 a.m. on April 9.

The alert was sent at 5:18 p.m. for a robbery snatch at the intersection of 14th and Irving Streets, NW.

Police are looking for a Black male, 6’0″ in height, wearing a scarf wrapped around his head.

The suspect was last seen inside a black sedan heading west on the 1200 block of Irving Street, NW.

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