Robbery, Jail Stabbing Defendant Accepts Plea Deal, Dropping 55 Charges

A defendant who initially faced 58 charges pleaded guilty to two robberies and a stabbing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on March 23.

Rodney Bennett, 20, was initially charged with five counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, eight counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, 21 counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, three counts of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, three counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, two counts of endangerment with a firearm, three counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, two counts of robbery while armed, three counts of assault with intent to commit robbery while armed, first-degree theft, robbery, and five counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle. All charges faced an aggravating factor of being committed while Bennett was on release for another matter.

The charges stemmed from Bennett’s alleged involvement in the following incidents:

A shooting on the 600 block of Edgewood Street, NE, on Aug. 28, 2024,
An armed robbery on the 1300 block of Neal Place, NE, on Aug. 28, 2024,
An armed robbery on the 1900 block of 8th Street, NW, on Aug. 29, 2024,
An incident on Aug. 26, 2024, at an unknown location.

Bennett was also charged in a separate case with assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a stabbing inside the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE, on Nov. 11, 2025.

In court, Bennett accepted an agreement requiring him to plead guilty to armed robbery and robbery in his 2024 case and assault with a dangerous weapon in his 2025 case. In exchange, the prosecutors will dismiss all remaining charges.

Parties agreed on a total sentence from seven-to-10 years in prison for both cases as part of the plea deal. If Judge Ryan rejects the deal’s recommendation, Bennett may rescind his guilty plea.

The prosecutor said if the cases had gone to trial, they would have proven beyond reasonable doubt that on Aug. 28, 2024, Bennett pointed a gun at the victim and demanded his phone and wallet. They said the victim then grabbed his phone back and called the police.

The prosecutor also said they would have proven that on Aug. 29, 2024, Bennett chased two victims and demanded one of the individual’s watch and cash.

Bennett was wearing a GPS monitor at the times of both incidents, with electronic coordinates placing him where the crimes occurred, according to the prosecutor.

The prosecutor said they would have proven that on Nov. 10, 2025, Bennett got in a verbal argument with a victim in the DC Jail, then began to stab him.

When prompted by Judge Ryan, Bennett confirmed he stole another person’s belongings, he was not acting in self-defense, and he understood the rights he was giving up by pleading guilty. Judge Ryan conditionally accepted the plea, pending the sentencing recommendation.

Parties are slated to reconvene on May 22 for sentencing in both cases.

Defense Presents Eyewitnesses Testimony from Grand Jury Transcripts

Two eyewitnesses to a 1997 homicide testified through their Grand Jury transcripts in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on March 23.

Oscar Diaz-Romero, 47, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Jose Noel Coreas-Carcaro, 22, and Jose Molina, 27, in a restaurant on the 2400 block of 18th Street, NW, on Aug. 9, 1997. After the shooting, Diaz-Romero left the United States and traveled to El Salvador, where he was extradited from in January 2025.

The defense called two witnesses, who could not be present, but jurors heard their testimony from a Grand Jury transcript from Sept. 8, 1997. Diaz-Romero’s attorney Julie Swaney, read the prosecutor’s questions from the Grand Jury while her colleague read the witnesses’ answers.

Both were eyewitness testimonies from friends of the Coreas-Carcaro and Molina.

The first eyewitness revealed that he was with Coreas-Carcaro and Molina on the night of the incident. At that time, members of another group were, “looking at us with unfriendly eyes,” said the witness. According to the eyewitness, there was substantial fighting among the groups, and he said the other group “surrounded us.”

The second eyewitness described the shooter as a short, heavyset man with a “little beard.”

The prosecution called a detective from the Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who helped obtain a handwriting sample from Diaz-Romero. The detective told the court that they are fluent in Spanish.

The prosecutors showed letters from 1997 and the detective compared them to Diaz-Romero’s handwriting samples from 2025. According to the detective, the letters had similar misspellings to the sample from the defendant.

According to Diaz-Romero’s arrest warrant, MPD found the letters at the defendant’s residence in 1997. In the letters, an inmate at a Virginia correctional institution allegedly told Diaz-Romero to “get rid of the gun” and stated “killing someone is crazy.”

On the cross-examination, Swaney asked the detective if he was a handwriting expert, in which he said no. She also asked him if it is common for words to be misspelled in Spanish, in which he said “ [he] has seen that before.”

The prosecution also called a retired medical examiner to the stand who has performed over 20,000 autopsies and has been an expert witness in court over 700 times.

The medical examiner demonstrated to the jury how Molina’s wounds reflected that he was turning away from the shooter, as indicated by the “wedge shaped injury pointing towards the body.” They also confirmed that the cause of death for both victims was excessive blood loss, due to gunshot, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

On cross-examination, Diaz-Romero’s other attorney, Destiny Fullwood-Singh confirmed that the medical examiner’s demonstration did not account for the distance between the victim and the shooter.

Parties are set to reconvene on March 24.

‘My Son Was Raised Right, Some Can’t Say the Same,’ Shooting Victim’s Mother Says at Sentencing

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz sentenced a shooting and carjacking defendant to 14 years of imprisonment in a hearing on March 20.

Travis Thomas, 18, pleaded guilty on Aug. 29, 2025 for his involvement in three incidents. Thomas pleaded to assault with intent to kill while armed for his involvement in a playground shooting at C.W. Harris Elementary School on the 5400 block of C Street, SE on April 20, 2025. The victim sustained one gunshot wound to his head.

Thomas also pleaded guilty to two counts of unarmed carjacking for his involvement in carjackings on Oct. 30, 2024 at the 400 block of 14th Street, SE and on Nov. 17, 2024 at the 1300 block of Massachusetts Avenue, SE.

Thomas was 17 at the time of the offenses and charged under Title 16, which allows juveniles to be tried as adults for certain serious offenses.

The prosecutors requested a 24 year sentence, 10 years for assault with intent to kill, and seven years for each carjacking charge. They expressed the seriousness of these charges, furthering their point that Thomas fired a weapon into an elementary school playground.

Prosecutors received two victim impact statements, one from the mother of the shooting victim, and one carjacking victim.

The shooting victim’s mother read a letter written by her son that said he had dreams of being in the military, but those dreams are crushed now because he has titanium plates from the shooting. She told Judge Kravitz that her son has anxiety every time he goes outside, and that he is still recovering emotionally and physically from the shooting.

“I lived every mom’s nightmare,” stated the mother as she read about that horrible Easter Sunday last year. Her body went numb when she got the call that her son had been shot, but it became much worse when she arrived at the hospital and saw that her son had to undergo brain surgery, said the mother.

“My son was raised right, some can’t say the same,” the mother continued. Her family has gone through so much physically and emotionally, but she forgave Thomas because, “God gave me my baby back, which is my greatest blessing, and for that I thank you.”

The next victim impact statement was read by the victim of a carjacking on Nov. 18, 2024 at an unknown location that prosecutors agreed to not charge Thomas with as part of the plea agreement.

“I let the prosecutors drop my charge in the plea agreement just so he could be found guilty,” stated the victim before she talked about the terrible night that “haunts” her. “ I was attacked by a group of boys who were hiding in the dark waiting for me to arrive. I was pulling into my own driveway when these boys put their hands on me and stole my car,” the victim said.

“But taking my car was the smallest thing you took from me, what you gave me was greater, fear,” said the victim. She added that her distrust in society has grown since the incident.

“You’re accountable to your God if you have one,” the victim finished.

Megan Allburn, Thomas’ attorney, said that Thomas is still a child who has experienced trauma himself. He is incredibly remorseful for what he has done, but he is also an insightful and thoughtful kid, said Allburn.

Allburn argued that the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) should be considered, which allows people under 25 who are convicted of certain crimes to have their convictions sealed after they successfully complete their sentence and potentially offers sentencing flexibility.

Allburn noted Thomas’ age at the time of the offenses and his “bright future.” Thomas obtained his high school diploma while he was incarcerated, and he has recently been accepted into six colleges.

Prosecutors strongly opposed the YRA sentence because of concerns it would not protect the community, nor deter Thomas from future crimes.

Thomas addressed Judge Kravitz and indicated he’s reformed since his arrest saying, “the 11 months I served was not my punishment, but my savior, and I hope you all can forgive me.”

Judge Kravitz said he favored the YRA sentence, but he also wanted to focus on protection for the community and punishment for Thomas’ crimes.

Judge Kravitz settled on a term at the bottom of the guidelines, sentencing Thomas to eight years for assault with intent to kill, three years for each carjacking charge, and five years of supervised release. These sentences will run consecutively to each other.

No further dates were set.

Judge Delays Sentencing in Fratricide Case

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman delayed sentencing for a defendant who killed his brother on March 20, after parties submitted late filings.

Lamar Odoms, 25, accepted a plea deal on Nov. 21, 2025 for voluntary manslaughter while armed for the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Mark Odoms on Dec. 5, 2024 on the 2700 block of Wade Road, SE. Mark sustained one gunshot wound to his abdomen, leading to his death.

As part of the plea deal, the prosecution agreed to limit their sentencing request at the midpoint of the sentencing guidelines.

At the hearing, Judge Edelman noted that the prosecution sent in a seven-to-eight page letter in support of sentencing, and Lamar’s attorney, Gemma Stevens, sent in a 15-minute video earlier that morning. Judge Edelman stated he was unable to read or watch their materials, and would like to do so before sentencing Lamar.

Both parties agreed to delay sentencing in order for Judge Edelman to review their materials.

Parties set a new sentencing date for March 27.

Prosecutors Offer Plea to Defendant Accused of Fatal Beating

The prosecution offered a defendant who faces charges for the alleged fatal beating of a victim a plea offer on March 20 before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman.

Charles Lewis, 35, is charged with first-degree muder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal beating of 55-year-old Mark Carter on Oct. 10, 2022 on the 600 block of Southern Avenue, SE. Carter succumbed to his injuries five days later on Oct. 15, 2022..

At the hearing, prosecutors extended a final plea deal to Lewis to which he would have to plead guilty to second-degree murderer while armed and prosecutors would dismiss all remaining charges. As part of the plea, parties would agree on a sentencing range of 12-to-15 years of imprisonment, subject to Judge Edelman’s approval at sentencing.

This plea deal will expire at the next status hearing, prosecutors warned.

The next hearing date is set for April 24.

Judge Allows Triple-Homicide Defendant’s Redacted Medical Records as Evidence in Trial

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt granted prosecutors’ motion to introduce a triple-homicide defendant’s medical records as evidence in her trial on March 19.

Nakita Walker, 46, is charged with three counts of second-degree murder, fleeing a law enforcement officer, and assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a March 15, 2023 car crash resulting in the deaths of Mohamed Kamara, 43, Jonathan Alberto Cabrera Mendez, 23, and Olvin Josue Torres Velasquez, 22, on Rock Creek Parkway.

Prosecutors filed a motion on Feb. 18 to introduce Walker’s medical records considered a business record during her trial.

When Walker was initially brought to the hospital, nurses diagnosed her with alcohol intoxication according to Albert Amissah, Walker’s attorney, in reference to medical records.

Amissah objected to the motion and asserted the nurse’s initial observations of Walker were influenced by police officers who notified them it was a “DUI Investigation.”

Prosecutors stated that after the nurses diagnosed Walker and the toxicology report was made, a doctor diagnosed her alcohol intoxication. Judge Brandt agreed with the prosecutors saying that, “this is clinical diagnosis 101.”

Judge Brandt partially granted the motion and will allow the prosecutors to present Walker’s medical records, but they will need to be redacted of her personal information, and only certain portions can be shown to the jury.

Judge Brandt also addressed the prosecutors’ motion to introduce out of court statements on video, that was filed on Aug. 5, 2024.

The videos are from a witness’ phone and police body-worn camera footage of the crash, both at different angles of the scene.

Amissah initially objected because he thought that the videos would be shown without the witnesses being there, but prosecutors cleared the confusion that the witnesses are expected to be present in court.

Parties agreed that the footage could be shown to the court, but the video on the phone of the witness needed to be redacted, due to a “prejudicial caption” according to Amissah. The specifics of the caption were not mentioned in court.

Judge Brandt granted the prosecutors motion to introduce the videos to the jury.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 23 for jury selection.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Shooting at Police Cruiser, Car With 10-Year-Old Inside

A defendant accepted a plea deal for shooting at a police officer and 10-year-old child in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on March 20.

Delvin Pollard, 31, was originally charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer while armed, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, eight counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or place of business, and destruction of property less than $1,000.

The charges stemmed from his involvement in a shooting on the 300 block of Hawaii Avenue, NE on Dec. 12, 2019. No injuries were reported.

At the hearing, Pollard accepted a deal from prosecutors that required him to plead guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison with three years of supervised release and will require Pollard to register as a gun offender.

As part of the agreement, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining 19 charges against Pollard and not oppose the sentences run concurrently.

The prosecutor said if the case proceeded to trial, evidence would show that Pollard opened fire with an AR Pistol in a parking lot, striking a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) cruiser and a car with a 10-year-old inside.

Prosecutors said Pollard’s fingerprint was found on a gun discarded near the scene and eyewitnesses identified Pollard as the shooter.

Pollard’s attorney, Mani Golzari, said that the incident resulted from Pollard’s early-stage schizoaffective disorder making him delusional and subject to mood swings, which was undiagnosed at the time.

“It was a clear case where mental health issues were at the root of this incident, and it was not treated because this incident is what triggered a diagnosis,” Golzari said.

Judge Ryan accepted the plea agreement and allowed Pollard to remain on release until sentencing as he did not consider him a danger to the community and had no escape history.

Judge Ryan encouraged Pollard to continue with mental health treatments “which seems to be providing him stability.”

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on June 5 for sentencing.

Prosecutors Offer Homicide Defendant Plea Deal in Lieu of Trial

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan vacated a homicide trial after prosecutors expressed intention to resolve the case through a plea deal on March 20.

Robert Carpenter, 37, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Tremaine Nicholson, 42, on the 3400 block of 25th Street, SE, on May 7, 2024.

According to court documents, Carpenter allegedly shot Nicholson when he arrived at Carpenter’s partner’s house intoxicated, demanding to see his and the partner’s son.

At the hearing, prosecutors extended a plea offer that would require Carpenter to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter. In exchange, prosecutors would dismiss the remaining charges and agree to a sentence of seven-to-12 years of imprisonment. They said Carpenter has until March 26 to make a decision.

Prosecutors requested to vacate the trial as both parties expressed their preference to resolve the case through a plea agreement.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 26.

Judge Says Infanticide Defendant Had ‘Multiple, Multiple Opportunities’ to Improve on Release

A defendant charged with her son’s death requested release before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on March 20.

Christen Borden, 37, is charged with first-degree felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children for her alleged involvement in the death of her son, five-month-old Kenneth Walton, on Feb. 11, 2023 at the 4000 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW. Walton died from multiple blunt force injuries to the head.

According to court records, Borden was previously on release in this case, but her release was revoked on Dec. 8, 2025 after failing to complete multiple drug treatments and not reporting to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA). Borden is charged in a separate case for failing to appear in court on Nov. 21, 2025.

At the hearing, Megan Allburn and Steven Kiersh, Borden’s attorneys, asked for her release in this case. They argued that Borden would comply with release conditions this time, including inpatient drug treatment.

The prosecution objected to Borden’s release due to her history of non-compliance and multiple failures to appear before the court, resulting in bench warrants. According to court records, the court ordered a bench warrant after Borden failed to appear three separate times since March 7, 2025.

Borden had “Multiple, multiple opportunities” to comply on release Judge Edelman stated when contemplating releasing her.

Judge Edelman considered releasing Borden, but hesitated due to her history of non-compliance, including failure to successfully complete any drug treatment the judge previously ordered.

The judge told prosecutors to file a motion in the next three weeks responding to the defense request for release.

Parties are set to reconvene on April 24.

Judge Imposes New Restrictions on Carjacking Defendant After Violations

DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel ordered a carjacking defendant to undergo inpatient drug treatment on March 20.

Manuel Alvarado, 42, is charged with unarmed carjacking for his alleged involvement in an incident on the 1500 block of 7th Street, NW on April 26, 2023.

According to court documents, the carjacking victim reported that Alvarado was noticeably under the influence of drugs during the incident.

At the hearing, the prosecution highlighted Alvarado’s violations of his pretrial release conditions. According to prosecutors, Alvarado violated his GPS tracking approximately 40 times, failed to remain at his designated residence, and repeatedly breached his 24-hour home confinement.

According to Alvarado’s attorney, Quiana Harris, many of the violations stemmed from misunderstandings of the conditions imposed. Harris explained that Alvarado would stop for food after required check-ins with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA), which resulted in multiple GPS alerts. Harris argued that the 24-hour home confinement was too restrictive for Alvarado, as he had responsibilities to assist his elderly aunt with whom he lives.

The prosecution emphasized Alvarado’s continued pattern of non-compliance, raising concerns about his ability to adhere to court ordered conditions moving forward.

Judge Israel imposed a modified curfew from 6 a. m. to 3 p. m. and ordered Alvarado to complete a 90-day residential drug treatment and detox program.

Parties are scheduled to return to court on April 24.

Defendant Was ‘The Imminent Danger,’ Not the Reverse, Prosecutors Say in 1997 Homicide Trial

Prosecutors alleged a defendant fatally shot two rival gang members during a fist fight in 1997 before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on March 17.

According to court documents, Diaz-Romero was allegedly in a rival gang including Coreas-Carcaro and Molina. Both gangs showed up at the same bar and a fist fight broke out between them.

Prosecutors claimed Diaz-Romero escalated the fist fight by using a gun and taking two lives. He wasn’t “in imminent danger. [He was] the imminent danger,” prosecutors said.

After the shooting, prosecutors alleged Diaz-Romero ran out of the back entrance and fled to El Salvador, where he hid for almost 30 years before being extradited back to the United States in January 2025.

Prosecutors said multiple witnesses at the scene identified Diaz-Romero as the shooter through his Miami Dolphins jersey, tattoos, or nickname, “Kiko.”

According to prosecutors, those identifications supported a warrant for Diaz-Romero’s arrest, but when Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers got to his house at the time, he was gone. MPD officers searched his house and found his resident alien card, which the prosecutors said was “not the kind of card [Diaz-Romero would] leave behind if [he was] ever going to come back.”

As part of the prosecution’s opening slideshow, they displayed a photo taken in 1999 of a detective and Diaz-Romero together in El Salvador. They argued the photo was evidence of Diaz-Romero’s location in El Salvador just two years after this incident until his extradition in 2025.

According to prosecutors, the detective went to El Salvador to find criminals who escaped the United States to a safe haven free from extradition. While there, he found Diaz-Romero and captured the photo as evidence.

Diaz-Romero’s attorney, Destiny Fullwood-Singh, acknowledged Diaz-Romero was at the bar around the time of the homicides, but he wasn’t the shooter.

Following the shooting, Fullwood-Singh said MPD officers brought in a group of “suspects,” none of whom were Diaz-Romero. She stated that the other suspects had “every reason to lie” to shift guilt away from them towards Diaz-Romero and many of them will testify on the prosecution’s behalf.

“They will contradict each other. They will contradict themselves,” Fullwood-Singh said. She cautioned the jury that multiple versions of the incident will emerge because the group of suspects couldn’t keep their stories straight. The day of the incident, she said, the group drove away together, had a conversation about what to present to the police, and then made themselves available.

She noted the lack of a firearm, DNA evidence, and matching fingerprints connecting Diaz-Romero to the crime.

Additionally, the story that the defendant “fled” to El Salvador is not true, Fullwood-Singh said. MPD detectives knew where Diaz-Romero was, even in 2010, when the first successful extradition of a Salvadoran national occurred.

Fullwood-Singh reminded the jury of the photo introduced by the prosecution of a MPD detective and Diaz-Romero sitting together in El Salvador from the early 2000s. “That’s not a man in hiding,” she stated. “They knew exactly where he was.”

After openings, prosecutors examined two family members of the victims. Molina’s mother testified that her son was “a good man.” “He got along well with everybody,” she said.

Prosecutors also called Coreas-Carcaro’s sister, who told the jury that her brother was “loving” and “always joking.”

Prosecutors also called a United States Secret Service (USSS) officer who responded to the crime scene. The officer said he was flagged down and told that a shooting had occurred at the bar.

The officer explained how he entered the second floor of the bar and saw two bodies near the bathroom “laying across each other.” After MPD took over the investigation, he had no other involvement with the case.

On cross examination from Diaz-Romero’s other attorney, Julie Swaney, the officer said he was unsure if the victims were dead when he saw them, so he called for an ambulance but didn’t examine them.

Prosecutors then called an acquaintance of Diaz-Romero who was at the bar on the morning of the shooting. The witness knew Diaz-Romero as “Kiko,” through mutual friends and having only met him a few times.

The acquaintance testified to seeing Diaz-Romero in the bar that morning and later as a part of the “big scuffle” between two groups happening on the floor.

According to the acquaintance, members from different groups began fighting on the floor in front of the bar. He said it was, “just chaos. Everyone was flying.” Everyone was throwing punches, he said, Diaz-Romero included.

Suddenly, he said he heard gunshots erupt from the fight. He and his friends fled and went back to their car before being picked up by police and questioned about the incident.

He also told the jury that one of his friends told him Diaz-Romero, who was wearing a number 13 Miami Dolphins jersey at the bar, was the shooter.

Due to time constraints, the defense will cross-examine the acquaintance when the trial reconvenes another day.

In addition, the prosecutors called the crime scene analyst to testify who collected physical evidence from the scene, including bullet fragments, clothing, and latent prints. She explained for the jury that crime scene officers’ duties are to “document crime scenes and recover evidence.”

On cross examination, she clarified that MPD officers set up the crime scene perimeter, not her and she never spoke to witnesses and was only focused on the physical evidence.

Parties are slated to reconvene March 18.

Defendant Pleads Not Guilty to Fatally Shooting Fleeing Woman

A homicide defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges at an arraignment before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on March 20.

Mercury Ford, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Tequila Parker, 32, on the 2300 block of Pitts Place, SE, on May 27, 2025. Parker sustained two gunshot wounds to her back and thigh.

According to court documents, surveillance footage allegedly showed Parker fighting another person who was with Ford. Parker attempted to run away when Ford allegedly took out a gun and fired at her as she ran. The footage then reportedly showed Parker falling to the ground.

At the hearing, the court formally arraigned Ford on the charges against him and his attorney, Yladrea Nicola Drummond, pleaded not guilty on his behalf and asserted his right to a speedy trial.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on May 18.

Defense Says Police Destroyed Homicide Evidence, Asks Judge to Dismiss Case

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz delayed his ruling on motions for a homicide defendant after a defense request over claims police destroyed evidence in a hearing on March 20.

Jaime Macedo, 24, is charged with first-degree felony murder while armed, attempt to commit robbery while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Maxwell Emerson. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Alumni Lane, NE on July 5, 2023.

At the motions hearing, parties argued over defense counsel’s motion to dismiss the case for the prosecution’s allegedl destruction of evidence which was filed on Feb. 21.

Jessica Willis and Rachel Cicurel, Macedo’s attorneys, claimed that the destruction of the body-worn camera footage and physical evidence at the crime scene by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is a violation of Macedo’s constitutional protection to due process.

Prosecutors argued that they did not know about the MPD’s destruction of the evidence until after it occurred and noted the defense did not raise the issue until recently.

Parties then discussed proposed sanctions the defense sent to prosecutors the night prior that would prevent the prosecutors from calling certain witnesses and presenting disputed evidence.

Willis and Cicurel want Judge Kravitz to prohibit prosecutors from using calls and messages from Macedo at the DC Jail. They argued if the destroyed evidence was provided to them, Macedo could have been on release, and forced to use jail phones.

Another proposed defense sanction would prohibit the prosecution from calling police officers that investigated the scene because of their interactions with the lead detective who faces misconduct allegations.

Prosecutors told Judge Kravitz that their most important evidence does not rely on the defense requests, so the sanctions would have little to no effect on them.

Judge Kravitz planned to rule on the motions after the weekend so he has ample time to go over the material.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 23 for jury selection.

Teen Armed Carjacking Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

A 17-year-old carjacking defendant accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno on March 13.

Frederick Etheridge, 17, was originally charged with armed carjacking, two counts of armed robbery, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges stemmed from Etheridge’s alleged involvement in an armed carjacking on the 2800 block of Erie Street, SE on Oct. 25, 2024, and an armed robbery on the 2700 block of Terrace Road, SE on Jan. 3, 2025.

Etheridge was charged under Title 16, which allows for juveniles to be tried as adults for certain serious offenses.

Etheridge accepted an offer from prosecutors that required him to plead guilty to armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a carjacking on Dec. 30 2024 on 2900 block of Erie Street, SE.

In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss any greater or remaining charges in this case and an unrelated assault case. In addition, prosecutors will not seek an indictment with additional charges related to the Oct. 25, 2024, Jan. 3, 2024, and two additional incidents.

The prosecution said if the case had proceeded to trial, their evidence would have proved that Etheridge, with another suspect, carjacked a white Kia Sorento on Dec. 30, 2024 with a firearm. Etheridge and the other suspect, patted the victim down and stole a satchel the victim was wearing.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 11.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Fatal Shooting of His Girlfriend’s Fiancé

A defendant accepted a plea deal for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend’s fiance before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on March 20.

Stephon Shields, 29, was originally charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, first-degree felony murder while armed, first-degree burglary while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than a year, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 58-year-old James Samuels. The incident occurred on the 2900 block of Nelson Place, SE, on June 2, 2023.

According to court documents, Samuels sustained gunshot wounds to his arms, thighs, shoulder, chest, abdomen, lower back, buttock, and penis.

During the hearing, Shields accepted a deal from prosecutors that required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed, which holds a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. Prosecutors will dismiss any greater or remaining charges against Shields.

The prosecution, and Shields’ attorney, Andrew Ain, agreed to 19 years in prison as part of the plea. Judge Brandt will accept or reject this recommendation during sentencing, and should she reject it, Shields may rescind his guilty plea.

The prosecutor stated that had this case gone to trial, they would have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that after being released from prison, Shields went to the residence of his girlfriend and confronted her about cheating on him. According to the prosecutor, the girlfriend was simultaneously in a relationship with Samuels and Shields, causing Shields to seek out Samuels and get into a tussle with him before shooting him to death, the prosecutor said.

Shields began tearing up when asked about his involvement in the incident.

“I know it’s hard. You’re doing great, you’re doing well,” Judge Brandt told him. “Hang in there sir.”

After finding Shields understood that he waived his right to a trial, Judge Brandt accepted his guilty plea.

Parties are slated to reconvene on May 29 for sentencing.

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