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Judge Sentences Defendant to 30 Months With 12 Months Suspended

On Dec. 11, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant in a drug and weapon’s possession case. 

Jorge Sweet was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance while armed. The 34-year-old was found to be in possession of the unregistered firearm and thirty baggies of cocaine on Oct. 5, 2019, on the 2500 block of Southern Avenue, SE.

Indictment charges filed against him include possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or place of business, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction on Jan. 24. Per the plea agreement, the prosecution dismissed the remaining counts of the indictment.

Judge John Campbell sentenced Sweet to 30 months incarceration with 12 months suspended with credit for time served. He was given two years supervised probation and must comply with all probation conditions the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) recommends. Any recommendations by CSOSA were not presented during the sentencing. 

Sweet will also have to pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime (VVC) compensation fund and must register as a gun offender following his release.

This article was written by Yasmeen McGettrick.

Document: Suspect Arrested in Connection with Carver/Langston Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a suspect in connection with a Dec. 11 homicide.

At around 3:58 p.m., officers responded to the the intersection of 21st Street and Benning Road, NE.

There, they found 35 year-old Antoine Pierce, of District Heights, Md., inside a vehicle, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on scene.

On Dec. 12, 26 year-old Jamall Thornton was arrested for second-degree murder while armed.

The case remains under investigation.

Document: Homicide in Randle Highlands

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) are investigating a homicide that happened on the afternoon of Dec. 11.

At around 4:09 p.m., officers responded to the 1700 block of 29th Street, SE for the report of a shooting.

There, they found 26 year-old Vincent Gyamfi suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Document: Police Arrest Suspect for Benning Road Shooting

On Dec. 12, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a suspect in connection to a homicide at the intersection of 21st Street and Benning Road, NE.

Officers arrested 26-year-old Jamall Thornton on charges for second-degree murder while armed.

A press release stated that officers found 35-year-old Antoine Pierce in a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds on Dec. 11. He died on the scene.

The case is still being investigated.

The department is offering up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case or any other murder in DC. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-727-9099. Or, text the department’s text tip line — 50411.

Document: Homicide At Intersection of Benning Road and 21st Street, NE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting at the at the intersection of 21st Street and Benning Road, NE.

A little before 4 p.m. on Dec. 11, officers found, 35-year-old Antoine Pierce, in a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. He died on the scene.

The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE — 50411.

Judge Holds Seven Defendants During Initial Hearings

A DC Superior Court judge held seven defendants and released twelve during initial hearings on Dec. 11. 

Mohamed Goodwin is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting and killing 25 year-old Devonte Wilson.

On Dec. 3, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a traffic incident that occurred on the 700 block of Morton Street, NE. Upon arrival, they found Wilson suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. He was immediately taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead the next day due to the severe nature of his injuries. 

The police were able to identify Goodwin, 32, with the help of surveillance footage and multiple eyewitness testimonies. 

Goodwin’s defense attorney, Lee Smith, requested that the defendant be placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).

The prosecution argued against this request, saying that he is a flight risk and should be held. 

“The defendant is on pretrial release for a gun case. There is evidence of flight–he was in Indianapolis but came back,” the prosecution said. 

Judge Sean Staples granted the prosecution’s request and held Goodwin. Goodwin’s next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 30. 

A 23-year-old male defendant is charged with assault with intent to commit robbery while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. The defendant is also charged with simple assault from a domestic violence case. 

On the evening of Dec. 10, on the 500 block of R Street, NW, the defendant allegedly approached a victim, attempting to rob them while brandishing a handgun. MPD officers happened to be driving by and were able to stop the robbery from taking place. 

Judge Staples held the defendant without bail given the seriousness of the allegations. The defendant will be held at DC jail until his next court hearing. 

Irving Hutchinson is charged with simple assault in a felony case and has an outstanding bench warrant for failure to appear in a misdemeanor case.  

According to court documents, on Dec. 10, Hutchinson, 24, approached and robbed a victim at Union Station, located on the unit block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE. The victim reported the incident to nearby police, who were able to locate Hutchinson quickly. 

Hutchinson will be held at DC jail until his next hearing, which will occur on Dec. 30. 

Judge Staples also held Robert Bland, who is charged with felony contempt for repeatedly violating a stay-away order. 

Bland, 54, has been ordered to stay away from a location in several cases in which he is accused of dealing heroin.

The prosecution noted that Bland has six pending cases, with five of those cases taking place during the past three months. 

“He has been given enough opportunities, and he will be held no bond,” Judge Staples said. 

Bland will be held at the DC jail until his next hearing, which is scheduled for Dec. 30. 

Jackson Brian is charged with being a fugitive from justice from the state of Florida. Brian failed to appear in DC for his extradition hearing on Dec. 9, so he is being held at DC jail until authorities from Florida can pick him up. 

Among those held is Mark Burnett, who is charged with second-degree burglary for allegedly stealing a pack of cigarettes from a victim who was apparently unconscious. Burnett, 31, is also charged with being a fugitive from justice from the state of Maryland. Burnett will be held at DC jail in both cases. 

Leslie Hines is charged with being a fugitive from justice from the state of Maryland. He is also charged with prison breach. Hines, 39, was released in his prison escape case, but Judge Staples held him in the fugitive matter for Maryland authorities to retrieve him within three business days. 

Of the 12 defendants that Judge Staples released, five were charged with misdemeanors. Some of the underlying charges were the distribution of a controlled substance, destruction of property less than $1,000 and attempted threats to do bodily harm. All defendants were ordered to report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA). They are instructed to come back to court on May 14, 2021. 

Four defendants charged with felonies were released. The majority of the charges included the distribution of a controlled substance or unlawful possession of a firearm. They are all ordered to report to PSA. One defendant was ordered to get a GPS monitoring device installed. 

Two fugitives from the state of Virginia were released with orders to turn themselves in to the appropriate authorities. 

One defendant charged with a traffic offense was released and ordered to come back to court on May 14, 2021. 

A hearing was also continued to Dec. 12 for a defendant who is in the hospital.

Emily Pengelly wrote this article.

Document: Suspects Sought for Burglary

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) are seeking suspects in connection to a second-degree burglary that occurred on Nov. 28.

At around 4:39 p.m., the suspects entered an establishment and took property on the 1400 block of Main Drive, NW.

The suspects can be seen in the video below.

Document: Homicide Arrest Made

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has made an arrest in reference to a homicide that occurred on Dec. 3.

25 year-old Devonte Wilson was found inside a car suffering from a gunshot wound on the 700 block of Morton Street, NW.

On Dec. 4, Wilson succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

On Dec. 10, police arrested 32 year-old Mohamed Goodwin, from Northwest, DC, and charged him with second-degree murder while armed.

Document: Police Arrest Suspect for Assault With a Knife

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has announced an arrest in connection to an assault that occurred on Dec. 8.

At around 10:08 p.m., the suspect and victim were in an argument on the 1600 block of T Street, SE. During the argument, the suspect stabbed the victim.

A second victim attempted to stop the assault but was also stabbed by the suspect. Both victims sustained non-life threatening injuries.

A 55 year-old was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

Document: Suspect Sought for Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking a suspect in connection to an offense that occurred on Nov. 18.

At approximately 10:00 a.m., the suspect was observed operating a stolen vehicle on the 2200 block of New York Avenue, NE.

The suspect can be seen in the photos below.

Crime Alerts: December 10-11

Between 9 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 9 a.m. on Dec. 11, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert.

The alert was sent at 9:29 p.m. for a shooting investigation on the 200 block of W Street, NW.

Police are looking for a white sedan that was last seen traveling northbound on North Capitol Street, NW.

Judge Reschedules Felony Hearings for Defendants in Murder Cases

A DC Superior Court judge rescheduled hearings today for two defendants in two seperate murder cases.

Michael Mason is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed and assault with intent to committ any other offense while armed.

According to court documents, Mason was arrested on June 17 and is being charged with the murders of Brea Moon and Antwuan Roach. 

In Moon’s case, Mason is accused of shooting her on April 7 in an attempt to kill another man who Mason claimed was “causing problems in the neighborhood.” 

He said that during the shooting, the man he was trying to kill entered the back seat of the vehicle that Moon was parked in. Moon was in the back left seat. Mason revealed that he had fired four to five shots at the car with a .40 caliber handgun but the bullets hit Moon instead.

Mason is also charged with murdering Roach on May 22 in which he and three other suspects allegedly drove a vehicle to a nearby alley and started shooting at the decedent. 

Mason told police that Roach was a rival gang member who had previously come to shoot at their crew. He also said that while in a juvenile detention center that Roach and he had gotten into several verbal altercation while there.

Mason’s next hearing is scheduled for May 18.

Dajuan Jones, 20, is also being charged with first-degree murder while armed for the murder of Moon.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrested Jones outside of a northeast DC apartment building after officers tracked him using his cell phone, according to court documents. Officers found a .40 caliber pistol with 20 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber.

The handgun is believed to be the weapon used in the homicide.

Judge Holds Three, Release Twenty-Six During Initial Hearings

On Dec. 10, DC Superior Court Judge Sean Staples held three defendants, released twenty-six, issued one bench warrant and continued one case during initial hearings.

George Miller, 26, is held on a charge of first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting and killing Elias Flores, 48, on Nov. 18 on the 1600 block of Olive Street, NE. Miller was arrested on Dec. 9. J

udge Staples said he “easily found” probable cause that Miller committed the crime in this case.

“I have a reason to believe that there are no conditions that would ensure the safety of the community in this case,” said Judge Staples about his decision to hold Miller.

Kareem Kargbo is held as a fugitive from justice for an underlying charge of homicide in Maryland. Kargbo also has a pending charge of possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device in DC, which he was released on. 

The Maryland authorities have three business days to retrieve him, unless they show cause for needing an extra three business days. If they fail to retrieve the defendant within the allotted time, he will be released, and another hearing will be scheduled for him in DC.

A domestic violence defendant is held on a charge of misdemeanor simple assault and violation of a Civil Protection Order (CPO). Judge Staples held him due to the severity of the alleged offense and the defendant’s failure to abide by the CPO. The defendant also allegedly committed the offense while on release for two ongoing misdemeanor cases. 

Of those released, ten defendants were charged with felonies. Two of those defendants were released into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with stay away orders. Of the eight other defendants, one was released with a no harassing, assaulting, threatening or stalking (HATS) order, and several were given stay away orders and orders not to possess or own any unregistered or unlawful firearms or ammunition. 

Three released defendants were charged with domestic violence offenses. They were all given stay away orders. One of the defendants is also charged as a fugitive from justice and was ordered to turn himself into the demanding authority. 

Nine of the released defendants were charged with misdemeanors, some of which were also given stay away orders. 

Four defendants were released as fugitives from justice with orders to turn themselves in to the demanding authorities.

One defendant failed to appear in court, despite the judge’s order. Judge Staples issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

One defendant charged with a felony is currently hospitalized and his initial hearing has been continued to Dec. 11.

Judge Holds Three Defendants During Initial Hearings

A DC Superior Court judge held three defendants in jail during initial hearings on Dec. 9.

Ernest Cleveland, 27, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed in one case and assault with a dangerous weapon in another case. Cleveland is accused of shooting 39-year-old Edward Pearson and assaulting another individual on Nov. 26. In his other case, Cole is accused of assaulting a female victim with a firearm on Dec. 8. 

Clevland allegedly shot both Pearson and the other male inside an apartment on the 2900 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW on Thanksgiving day. The second victim survived.

In the second offense, according to court documents, Cleveland was riding in a vehicle with another suspect and a woman who was completing Postmates deliveries. When officers responded to the sounds of gunshots, they found the woman who had been shot in the head and could only communicate with officers through writing with pen and paper.

Due to the possibility of Cleveland being a danger to the community, the judge decided to hold him in DC jail in both cases until his next hearing on Dec. 30.

Andrew Shuff, 26, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for an offense that occurred June 9 on the 1600 block of Ridge Street, SE. Shuff is accused of shooting at the victim in a vehicle after the victim declined to buy narcotics from him and refused to move his car. 

Shuff failed to appear at his hearing on Oct. 5, so he was brought in on a bench warrant. Judge Sean Staples released him in this case with a new court date of Feb. 10, 2021, but Shuff was held on a separate arrest warrant matter.

Carlton Cole,17, is charged with armed robbery for an offense that occurred on Dec. 7 on the 500 block of Kentucky Avenue, SE. Cole, along with another suspect, is accused of taking the victim’s cell phone and wallet while armed with an unloaded BB gun. Cole along with a co-defendant, are both juveniles who appeared in court remotely from the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS)

When Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene after a call about a robbery, they approached Cole and the other suspect as they were walking away from the crime scene. The two suspects fled in different directions before being apprehended by the police. 

Cole has a previous charge of the same offense from 2019. The judge decided to release Cole on this charge into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with GPS monitoring. However, Cole will be held on the previous charge of armed robbery.

Judge Staples released five defendants charged in domestic violence misdemeanor cases. Three of the defendants were given stay away orders in reference to the alleged victims, and one of the defendants was served with a Temporary Protective Order (TPO).

One of these defendants was brought to court on a bench warrant for failing to appear at a probation show cause hearing. The underlying charge in his case was contempt. 

Two additional defendants are charged with being fugitives from Maryland and Pennsylvania.

The defendant from Maryland was ordered to turn himself in to authorities there on Nov. 11, but court records showed that he didn’t. However, the defendant had paperwork showing that he did turn himself in, and after contacting Maryland authorities, the defendant was released. 

The second defendant charged with being a fugitive from justice is wanted in Pennsylvania for violating her parole by picking up a shoplifting charge. Judge Staples released the defendant and ordered her to turn herself in to Pennsylvania authorities. 

Judge Staples released ten defendants charged with felonies. Their charges include armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, carrying a pistol without a license, contempt and bench warrants with underlying felony cases. 

Of the felony defendants, two defendants appeared in court from the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS). Both defendants are charged with armed robbery, in separate cases.

The first defendant was co-defendants with Cole, who was charged with armed robbery and held in another case. The second defendant was charged after he allegedly brandished an unloaded BB gun while ordering the victim to hand over his wallet. 

Judge Staples also released five defendants who were charged with various misdemeanors. Their charges include GPS tampering, failure to register as a sex offender, violation of a TPO, attempted threats, sexual abuse and threats to do bodily harm. 

There were four defendants who were charged with traffic offenses. Two defendants are charged with DUI, and one of these defendants is also charged with leaving after a collision.

The other defendants had charges including driving without a permit and failing to appear at traffic arraignment.

Judge Staples released all of these defendants. 

Judge Finds Substantial Probability for Co-Defendants Charged with Murder

On Dec. 10, a DC Superior Court judge ruled that a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial. 

Niko Hall and Kyrie Wells are charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting of 25-year-old Anthony Lee on Sept. 26 on the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. 

Judge Todd Edelman was able to find substantial probability based on the evidence provided, including surveillance footage from the street and stores near the crime scene.

Surveillance footage showed the defendants as the shooters. However, there were a total of four shooters, two of which have not been identified as the case is still under investigation. 

Hall, 29, was identified as the suspect wearing a red hoodie in the footage, which was consistent with an Instagram picture he had posted on his account earlier that day. 

“The two defendants who are in front of me look clearly like the people in the videos,” said Judge Edelman.

During cross-examination, the lead Metropolitan Police Department detective said that shell casings were not found at the scene after police canvassed the area. However, in one of the surveillance videos, two of the shooters are seen kneeling down and picking something up after the shooting. 

The detective said he believes the shooters were picking up the shell casings.

“The government alleges that the shooters fired multiple rounds,” said Wells’ defense attorney, Dorsey Jones. “Not one shell casing is found, it’s hard to believe that the shooters picked up every shell casing especially during night time.”

In the surveillance footage, the suspect that is allegedly Hall is shown clearly pointing a gun, however, the man identified as Wells, 18, isn’t seen holding a gun. 

While Judge Edelman said it was a closer call for Wells, he still believes that the evidence is strong and fairly overwhelming even though a gun is not seen in his hands in the footage. 

“Releasing these people will be like releasing lions to sheeps pastures,” said a family member of the victim. “I fear for my life and my children.”

Defense attorneys Jones and Maritta King asked for their clients to be placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP.) 

However, Judge Edelman denied the request. 

“Given the circumstances of this case, there is strong evidence of a violent armed homicide,” said Judge Edelman. “Both defendants came to the scene to a public place armed, they acted in concert with two other people both of whom are still in the community.” 

Judge Edelman scheduled Wells and Hall’s next hearing for Jan. 27.