Judge Continues Homicide Hearing, Giving More time for Counsel to Exchange and Review of Evidence

A DC Superior Court judge continued a mental observation hearing for a murder defendant after the defense attorney asked that the prosecution provide more evidence.

Carson Posey, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting his ex- girlfriend, 28-year-old Shantal Hill. On April 15, 2020, Hill was found on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was taken to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries the next day.

During the March 25 hearing, Judge Danya Dayson read Posey’s competency evaluation report, which indicated that he was competent to stand trial and should remain at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution to avoid competency deterioration.

Defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman said she did not agree with the report’s results, but was not asking for more evaluations at this time. Instead she requested a continuance.

Cadman also said that much of the evidence, including Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage, was only given to her in snippets and was not useful to her.

She requested that more evidence be given to her so that she can go over it with her client and make sure he truly understands the charges against him.

The prosecution said they will turn over pre-indictment evidence on a rolling basis. The prosecution said some of the evidence will be available right away. Other evidence items would be available by April 15.

Judge Dayson continued the hearing to July 22.

Judge Continues Trial Readiness Hearing for Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge continued a trial readiness hearing for a murder defendant who has been held in the case since 2014.

Mark Bowser, 42, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a dangerous weapon for allegedly stabbing 39-year-old Tracy Womack on the 4600 block of Benning Road, SE on Sep. 20, 2014. He is also charged with obstructing justice for allegedly delaying testimony in 2018.

Defense attorney Betty Ballester said the judge assigned to the case has not acted on her motion to withdraw from the case.

Judge Juliet Mckenna said she will contact the case judge to see if they are in process of assigning the case to a different attorney. If not, Ballester will pick an attorney to take her place.

A trial readiness hearing is scheduled for May 3.

Bowser has been detained since he picked up the charges in 2014. In 2019, he rejected a plea offer.

He was scheduled to have a trial in July, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ballester is withdrawing due to obligations that prevent her from having the time needed to spend on the case. In her motion to withdraw as counsel, she said that even though Bowser is frustrated that his case has not been able to go to trial, she explained to him that it is better for her to withdraw.

During the March 25 hearing, the prosecution expressed interest in picking trial dates. However, Judge Mckenna sided with Ballester, saying it would be more appropriate to do that after a new attorney is assigned to the case.

Judge Continues Murder Hearing for Testing Results

A DC Superior Court judge continued a felony status conference for a murder defendant.

Jaamil Hipps, 43, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the stabbing of 40-year-old Sa’id Grey on the 1300 block of Missouri Avenue, NW on Aug. 12, 2020.

According to court documents, Grey was found in the hallway of an apartment complex suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

During the March 25 hearing, Judge Danya Dayson asked if parties are engaging in plea negotiations.

The prosecution said they had reached out to the previous defense attorney assigned to the case.

However, new forensic testing is ongoing and the prosecution is waiting for those reports before they contact the newly appointed defense attorney, David Knight, to engage in plea negotiations.

The next felony status conference is scheduled for May 24.

Judge Holds Sex Abuse Defendant, Releases Domestic Violence Defendant

During initial hearings on March 24, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nolan presided over more than 30 cases.

Among those cases there were two domestic violence cases and one sex abuse case.

The first domestic violence defendant is charged with simple assault and attempted threats to do bodily harm. The defendant was released on personal recognizance under the supervision of the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA). He was also given a stay away order.

The defendant was ordered to return to court for a status hearing on April 21.

The second domestic violence defendant was charged with simple assault but the charges were dropped and he was released. The case is now closed.

The third defendant is charged with attempted sex abuse, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, sex abuse and lewd, indecent or obscene acts.

The defendant has four pending cases in DC and will be held until his next hearing, which is scheduled for April 13.

Sasha Ridenour wrote this article.

Document: Suspect Arrested for Child Sex Abuse

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a 39 year-old suspect for first-degree child sex abuse on March 25.

According to a press release, the suspect is accused of having sexually abused a minor from 2014 through 2019.

Judge Holds Homicide Defendant During Initial Hearing

On March 23, a DC Superior Court judge held a defendant charged with first-degree murder and released six defendants charged in domestic violence cases.

Judge Lloyd Nolan heard a total of 26 cases. Judge Nolan held Aaron Adgerson, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 22 year-old Edward Wade on the 1400 block of Good Hope Road, SE onJ an. 25. Adgerson, 17, is being charged as an adult in this case.

Defense counsel asked the judge not to find probable cause, saying that, of the four suspects, Adgerson was not identified as being a shooter. He also said that Adgerson was clearly a passenger in the vehicle and that nothing indicates that he knew any violence was planned.

The prosecution argued that Adgerson was, at the very least, a lookout for the other suspects, saying, “he had an active role in the shooting in terms of scouting out the location of the shooting.” Judge Nolan agreed with the prosecution and found probable cause.

The defense asked for release, saying that Adgerson is a student, has support from his mother and is eligible to be placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with home confinement orders, if necessary.

However, the prosecution asked he be held given the seriousness of the charge and his prior criminal history, which was not discussed in open court.

Judge Nolan held Adgerson due to his prior criminal record involving assaultive behavior as well as his noncompliance with pretrial services in pending matters.

Adgerson will be held under the supervision of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) until his next hearing, which is scheduled for March 30.

Judge Nolan released all six domestic violence defendants and issued stay-away orders in all of their cases. Additionally, the defendants must call the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) once a week.

The charges for the domestic violence defendants included violation of a Temporary Protection Order (TPO), possession of a controlled substance, destruction of property, simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm and second-degree theft.

All released defendants will return to court on Aug. 24.

Lauren Pelzner wrote this article.

Judge Reschedules Status Hearing

A DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a March 24 status hearing due to the defense counsel’s absence.

John Woods is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 60-year-old Geno Freeman on Feb. 19. Woods, 66, allegedly shot Freeman twice with a shotgun on the 6000 block of Chillum Place, NE.

Defense attorney James King was not able to attend the hearing. Another attorney, Joseph Yarbough, filled in to help with the proceedings.

Judge Milton Lee rescheduled the hearing to April 5.

Sarah Gebrengus wrote this article.

Judge Schedules Hearing for Co-Defendants in Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for the co-defendants in a murder case. The hearing will determine if the case should continue to trial.

Shaquille Bynum and Sean Howard, both 18, are charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 20-year-old Ibrahim Sesay on Jan. 7 on the 1300 block of 9th St. NW.

Judge Milton Lee scheduled a preliminary hearing for May 12.

In the meantime, Bynum and Howard will remain held at DC Jail, where they have been since March.

Judge Schedules Preliminary Hearing for Defendant in Stabbing Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Joshua Young, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 50 year-old Walter Rogers to death on Feb. 21 on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

Judge Milton Lee scheduled the preliminary hearing for June 1.

In the meantime, Young will remain held at DC Jail, where he has been since he picked up the charges earlier this month.

Judge Schedules Preliminary Hearing for Sexual Abuse Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence against a sex abuse defendant to bring the case to trial.

The 36-year-old defendant is charged with assault with the intent to commit third-degree sex abuse after luring a woman into a secluded parking lot in an attempt to sexually assault the victim.

During the March 23 hearing, Judge Milton Lee asked parties if they expected any issues with witness availability to attend and testify at the preliminary hearing.

Counsel did not expect any issues and said they would file any remaining motions in a timely manner.

The hearing is scheduled for May 19.

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.

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