Parties to Discuss Plea Options for Homicide Case

A DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing for a murder case, so parties could discuss plea options.

Aaron Jackson, 40, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the fatal stabbing of 36-year-old Jamaul Crockett on Nov. 5, 2020, on the 600 block of Lamont Street, NW.

During the Jan. 25 hearing, defense attorney Bernadette Armand asked Judge Judith Smith to continue the hearing so she could talk with her client and parties could discuss how to proceed.

In December, the prosecution was reported to be preparing a pre-indictment plea offer.

Judge Smith scheduled the case’s next hearing for March 3.

Homicide Defendant Receives 2 Hearing Dates for 2 Different Cases

A DC Superior Court judge set two new status hearings for a defendant who is accused of fatally shooting a man in Northwest, DC in 2017 and assaulting another victim in 2020.

In addition to first-degree murder while armed, Tavon Davis is charged with obstructing justice, threat to kidnap or injure a person and soliciting murder for his alleged participation in the 2017 death of 29-year-old Michael Vest on the 1300 block of Trinidad Avenue, NE.

DC Superior Court Judge Judith A. Smith presided over the Jan. 25 hearing. Davis, 26, is now scheduled for a new status hearing on March 17.

Judge Smith also set a status hearing for May 19 for Davis’ 2020 case in which he is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

The assault occurred when Davis allegedly stabbed a fellow inmate at the DC Jail with a homemade knife, according to court documents. The victim sustained “three stab wounds to the right neck and a stab wound to the upper right arm.” The victim survived the attack.

Davis is being held without bail.

Murder Case Set for Preliminary Hearing in March

On Jan. 25, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a preliminary hearing to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Kenneth Stewart, 59, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the fatal stabbing of 54-year-old Courtney Jones on July 23, 2020, on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 29.

Homicide Case Set for Continuance Following Newly Appointed Counsel

A DC Superior Court judge ordered a continuance for a hearing set to determine the competency of a homicide defendant.

On Feb. 13, 2020, Terence Dantzler suffered multiple gunshots to the head on the 700 block of 8 Street, NW. Jaykell Mason was charged with first-degree murder while armed and assault on a police officer while armed following the incident.

During the Jan. 25 hearing, Mason, 21 was scheduled to receive the results of his second competency screening. However, because an employee from the Department of Behavioral Health was preoccupied in a previous hearing and Mason’s newly appointed counsel needed additional time to review documents, the court ordered a continuance.

According to court documents, multiple witnesses allegedly saw Mason shoot Danzler, 29. Reports indicate that Mason engaged in gunfire with officers before he was shot in the hand and detained by police. Mason tested positive for opiates in his system, and a Remington R51 was retrieved from the scene.

The hearing is scheduled to continue on Feb. 26.

Plea Offer Extended in Domestic Violence Case

The prosecution in a domestic violence case said they have extended a plea offer to the defendant.

The defendant is charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. The prosecution’s offer would allow him to plead down to a charge to a simple assault.

Defense attorney Joseph Yarbough said he has not had the opportunity to discuss the offer with his client but plans to do so.

The defendant has had a bail amount imposed in this case, but he is being held in a federal case.

Judge Robert Okun scheduled the next hearing for Feb. 22.

Crime Alerts: January 24-25

Between 9:00 p.m. on Jan. 24 and 9:00 a.m. on Jan. 25, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out six crime alerts.

An alert was sent at 1:08 a.m. for an armed robbery investigation on the 1800 block of Belmont Road, NW. Police are looking for a 28-35 year-old Black male with a medium complexion, a full goatee, scarf around his head and neck area, wearing khaki pants. He was last seen headed west.

An alert was sent at 11:58 p.m. for an armed robbery on the 4200 block of Blaine Street, NE. Police are looking for three Black males, two armed with handguns and one armed with a long gun. They were all wearing masks.

An alert was sent at 10:42 p.m. for a confirmed armed carjacking at the intersection of 7th Street and Franklin Street, NE. Police are looking for a silver Honda CRV with a sunroof, spare tire in the rear and multiple stickers on the rear window. The tag is M907220. The suspects are two juvenile, Black males. One is wearing a grey hoodie, grey jeans, a puffy jacket and armed with a handgun. The second suspect is wearing black clothes and a grey skull cap.

An alert for a robbery was sent at 10:35 p.m. on the 1400 block of Somerset Place, NW. Police are looking for three Black males between 13 and 16 years of age.

An alert was sent at 9:59 p.m. for a stabbing on the 4200 block of East Capitol Street, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

A final alert was sent at 9:08 p.m. for a shooting investigation on the 3400 block of 22nd Street, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

Judge Releases Murder Defendant During Initial Hearings

On Jan. 22, DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond heard 19 cases during initial hearings.

Of those 19 cases, one was a murder case and one was a domestic violence case.

Judge Raymond released a defendant who is charged with second-degree murder. The defendant, 38-year-old Gary Rush, is accused of killing Keena Dowtin, who was a passenger in his vehicle.

Rush was driving in Fort Dupont Park on Sept. 20, 2020, and, according to court documents, he allegedly said he swerved to avoid hitting a deer, driving into the woods and striking a tree.

Documents state that Rush’s blood tested positive for PCP, and an officer who reconstructed the accident said he was driving around 74 miles per hour and failed to make a turn in the roadway, causing the crash.

Judge Raymond released Rush into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP), and he is scheduled to return to court on June 25.

Judge Raymond also released a domestic violence defendant who is charged with simple assault. The defendant was given a stay-away order and ordered to return to court on June 25.

Murder Case Set for Trial Readiness Hearing After Mistrial

A trial readiness hearing has been scheduled for two defendants in a murder case after a judge declared a mistrial as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nyekemia Everett and Malik Hewitt are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Christopher Heard on the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE during the early hours of April 27, 2017.

The trial had proceeded all the way until closing arguments when the mistrial was declared by Judge Anita Josey-Herring in August 2020.

At the time, Judge Josey-Herring, who is now the chief judge of the DC Superior Court.

The judge presiding over the Jan. 21 hearing scheduled the trial readiness hearings to take place on March 3. A date for the trial has not been set at this time.

Hewitt and Everett are also charged with conspiracy, attempt to commit armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Everett is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, fleeing law enforcement officers and obstruction of justice. Hewitt is also charged with felony murder while armed.

Document: Homicide in Douglass

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a homicide that occurred on Jan. 21 in the Douglass neighborhood.

At around 9:45 p.m., officers responded to the 1800 Block of Alabama Avenue, SE, for the sound of gunshots. Upon arrival, they found 27 year-old Damareus Scott suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Document: Homicide in Washington Highlands

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Jan. 21.

At about 2:48 p.m., MPD officers responded to the 4400 block of 3rd Street, SE due to a reported shooting. When they arrived, they found 27 year-old Andrew Session in the hallway of a residential building, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Session was taken to a hospital, but ultimately pronounced dead.

Trial Plans Change for Murder and Kidnapping Cases

As the suspension of jury trials due to the COVID-19 pandemic remain in place, a DC Superior Court judge changed scheduling plans made three days ago for murder and kidnapping cases.

Cousins Kurt, 21, and Demonte, 19, Hewitt are charged with second-degree murder while armed in the fatal stabbing of 16 year-old Tyshon Perry on May 1, 2018, on the 1300 block of 2nd Street, NE.

The two are also charged in another felony case alongside a third co-defendant, Kevin Sanders. In that case, which also dates back to 2018, the cousins are charged with armed kidnapping and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Demonte Hewitt is also charged with first-degree burglary while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon. Sanders is charged with threats to injure or kidnap a person.

Back on Jan. 19, the prosecution estimated that the kidnapping trial would take around three to four days. Judge Juliet McKenna set the kidnapping case for jury selection and trial commencement in mid-April. The murder case would then trail the kidnapping case, with defense motions due for submission on the first of June.

However, on Jan. 22, Judge McKenna decided to change plans to try the murder case first.

The dates set aside for jury selection and trial in the kidnapping case are now vacated. A jury trial for the murder case is now scheduled to begin on the first of November. A motion hearing is also set for July 22.

In that case, the Hewitts are also charged with conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon and simple assault.

They are being held at DC Jail. Sanders is on pretrial release.

Judge Hears Four Domestic Violence Cases During Initial Hearings

On Jan. 21, DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond heard a total of 14 cases during initial hearings, four of which were domestic violence-related.

Of the four domestic violence cases she heard, the judge held one at the DC jail.

The defendant that Judge Raymond held was brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear at his hearing in which he is charged with simple assault. He is also charged with a bail violation.

The defendant will be held at the jail until his next hearing, which is scheduled for Feb. 2.

The three other defendants have charges including simple assault, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon and second-degree theft.

Two of the defendants were placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with GPS monitoring. All three were given stay-away orders and told to come back to court on June 24.

Prosecution Requests Continuance for Hearing

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson issued a continuance for brothers, Daivion and Dijon Williams’ murder hearing.

Daivion, 22 and Dijon, 21 were released under home confinement following their involvement in the fatal shooting of Nurudeen Thomas. The incident occurred on the 4100 block of 14th Street, NW on July, 21 2020. The brothers have been charged with felony murder while armed.

The hearing was continued due COVID -19 restrictions making it difficult for the defendants to appear in court.

The Jan. 21 proceeding also served as a pretrial show cause hearing for Daivion. During the proceeding Judge Dayson addressed three curfew violations for the defendant. She determined that the violations were due to tardiness in checking in with Pretrial Services rather than flagrant noncompliance.

Judge Dayson stressed that Daivion must follow the conditions of his home confinement.

Although the show cause hearing did not pertain to Dijon, the judge verbally warned him for his multiple failures to call and check in with pretrial services.

According to court documents, the brothers conspired with other suspects to rob Thomas, 30, but the altercation ended in homicide. Directly after the incident the group drove to Georgia, where the Williams brothers currently reside. The brothers were detained and a search warrant was executed for their house and vehicle. Forensic evidence revealed that Thomas was shot in the defendants’ vehicle.

The hearing is scheduled to continue on Feb. 26 to give the prosecution time to determine when it would be best to order the defendants to present themselves at the DC Superior Court for booking.

Vallen Anderson wrote this article.

Counsel Debates Murder Defendant’s Competency

Parties discussed how to proceed with a murder case after a judge rules that a murder defendant is still not mentally competent to stand trial more one year after her first assessment.

Alisa Randall is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the fatal stabbing of 59-year-old Ronald Jones Payne on July 15, 2019, on the 1300 block Euclid Street, NW.

She is being held at St. Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, even though she has expressed the desire to be transferred to the DC Jail.

However, Judge Neal Kravitz, declined her request, saying the hospital is the best place for her because it’s a more therapeutic environment than the jail.

Randall was first found incompetent to stand trial in August 2019 and has been found incompetent on several occasions since then. However, previous reports have said there is “substantial probability” that her competency will be restored.

In Randall’s most recent report from the DC Department of Behavioral Health, the doctor did not indicate that the defendant was likely to become competent in the foreseeable future, said Ashley Guzman, Randall’s defense attorney.

he most recent report was received on Jan. 19.

During the Jan. 21 hearing that followed, another defense attorney, Dana Page, said Randall is far from having rational understanding, which is needed to assist her attorneys.

She also said she doesn’t think there is a basis for the prosecution to have their own expert evaluate the defendant.

Page said she has concerns with the prosecution’s expert’s evaluation. She said the doctor “illegally interrogated” a previous client of hers and the case judge agreed that the information should not have been solicited.

However, the prosecutor said that Page’s description of the events may not be entirely accurate. She said that the expert warned her ahead of time that Page may bring this up.

“What I want to avoid is having something explode 30 days from now and find out the government’s expert has asked Ms. Randall things the expert is not permitted to ask her about,” Judge Kravitz said. He said the allegations are troubling if they are true.

Page also said she wants the prosecution’s expert to offer an opinion on if Randall’s competency can be restored, not if she’s competent. However, the prosecution saidthe request from the defense doesn’t make sense because the expert couldn’t make an opinion on restorability if that expert thinks the defendant’s competence has already been restored. Judge Kravitz agreed.

The defense also said they aren’t asking to be present during the evaluation, but they are asking for advance notice.

The judge agreed to that without any apparent objection from the prosecution. He also ordered that the evaluation be recorded.

Judge Kravitz ordered parties to engage in negotiations, so that both parties has the documentation needed.

“I’m confident you guys can do this,” he said.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 4.

Andrea Keckley wrote this article.

Judge Dismisses Murder Defendant’s Case

A DC Superior Court judge dismissed the case for one of three co-defendants charged with murder after ruling that there is not enough evidence to go to trial.

Lejeezan Toudle, 36, was charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of Eugene Isaac Jr., who was fatally shot Feb. 15 on the 100 block of N Street, NW.

He had been charged alongside two co-defendants: Elton Wiggins, 54, and Devon Stephens, 34.

Toudle was charged under the felony murder rule. He was accused of killing Isaac while perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate the crime of robbery, according to court documents.

Back in August, Judge Danya Dayson found that the case against the three defendants had enough evidence to go to trial.

Toudle’s defense filed a motion for reconsideration.

During the hearing, the judge ruled that the case against Toudle did not have probable cause. It is now dismissed. The other two defendants’ cases remain open.

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