The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested three suspects in connection with an assault with a dangerous weapon that happened on Sept. 20.
At around 8:24 p.m., three suspects allegedly assaulted a victim on the 1000 block of Wisconsin Avenue, NW. One allegedly brandished a handgun and threatened the victim. They were apprehended by responding officers.
A DC Superior court judge sentenced a defendant on theft and financial exploitation charges.
Judge Robert Solerno sentenced Jasmine Worthy to serve a total of 60 days at DC Jail followed by 15 years of probation. She must also pay a total of $58,465 in restitution.
Worthy, 55, was sentenced in three cases during the Sept. 23 hearing.
In her first case, Judge Solerno sentenced the defendant to serve 30 days for the financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult or elderly person.
In her second case, Worthy will serve 15 days for each of three second-degree theft charges, and five days for the fourth. In her third case, she will serve 15 days for second-degree theft.
The sentences in each case will run consecutively.
“[The defendant’s actions are] so calculating, so callus [and] caused so much pain,” the prosecutor said during the Sept. 23 hearing.
The prosecution recounted how Worthy conned several vulnerable adults out of thousands of dollars. Worthy promised the victims apartments, but none received what was promised, nor did they receive refunds.
The money transferred to Worthy was funneled to different bank accounts and used to benefit the defendant.
Worthy would provide fake names and numbers to the victims when they began to question where their money was going. Worthy would also claim their money was being held by a third party and could not be refunded until the transactions were complete.
One victim, who was pregnant at the time, was evicted with her young daughter and forced to live in a shelter.
The prosecutor argued how Worthy understood the precarious situations of these victims, occasionally meeting their families and learning about their lives.
“I looked at Jasmine like family,” one victim said. “We are trying to help our families… all of us should stick together, but instead she hurt us.”
“I am still facing eviction,” said another victim.
Defense attorney David Richter argued his client had taken responsibility for her crimes early on in the case and that she wants to do the right thing. He argued she has a large support system that would aid her through probation.
Worthy has been receiving mental health treatment since March and has been diagnosed with cancer. Richter argued serving a lengthy jail sentence could be detrimental to her health and would then prevent her from making restitution payments.
Judge Solerno set her monthly payments to $960. However, he scheduled a probation review hearing for Sept. 23 of next year to revisit this order.
Worthy also had an opportunity to address the court and her victims.
“I’ve listened to every word,” Worthy said. “I’d like to apologize to everyone… I’m not a bad person–I’ve only tried to give my life to helping everyone…I apologize for anything that came off the wrong way.”
She said how she’s carried the weight of many people with her for a long time, but thanks to therapy she has been able to get help.
“If anything, I hurt me too,” said Worthy.
Judge Solerno weighed the option of deferring the sentence until Worthy received her biopsy report. However, after conferring with his client, Richter stated to the court that Worthy would like to move forward with the sentencing today.
“I’m not sure [Worthy] fully gets what she’s done here,” said Judge Solerno. “She describes this as ‘bad choices’ …. She says she feels like a victim.”
A defendant entered into a guilty plea with the prosecution on Sept. 23.
Andre Johnson, 19, pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.
In exchange, the prosecution dropped his other charges of unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of an ammunition feeding device.
Johnson’s attorney, Joseph Molina, said he wanted to go straight into sentencing. However, Molina said he wants his client sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which requires a pre-sentence report.
Judge John Campbell advised Johnson to continue to comply so the prosecution will not oppose a probation sentence. He scheduled Johnson’s sentencing for Dec. 8.
On Sept. 22, a DC Superior Court judge ruled that a sex offense case has enough evidence to go to trial.
The defendant is charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse.
According to court documents, the victim said she was walking to a gas station on St. Elizabeth’s campus, located on the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Avenue, SE on July 11 when the assault happened. The defendant allegedly exposed himself to the victim and continued to follow her after she told him to leave her alone. The defendant allegedly grabbed the victim’s hair and knocked her to the ground and began to remove her clothes.
A witness noticed the event and called the police.
During the Sept. 22 preliminary hearing, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective testified that another officer showed the victim a photo array of suspects. The victim was able to positively identify the defendant with 100 percent confidence.
Defense attorney Prescott Loveland questioned the accuracy of the evidence citing a nine-minute discrepancy between the video surveillance and the 911 call and inconsistencies with the victim’s story. He also argued the description provided by the witness and victim matched several other males in the area, citing audio from an MPD Body Worn Camera (BWC.)
Judge Edelman said his reasoning for this ruling is based on the police report, which displays elements of sexual assault and the confident identification of the defendant by the victim. He disagreed with Loveland’s argument that inconsistency with the victim’s story does not constitute probable cause.
The prosecution submitted several documents into evidence, including a composite of video surveillance and audio of the 911 recording. These documents contributed to Judge Todd Edelman’s decision to find probable cause.
“Inconsistencies [are to] be expected given the traumatic nature of this case,” said Judge Edelman.
The prosecutor argued that the defendant should remain held in DC Jail, saying the defendant has shown a pattern of troubling behavior when reviewing the defendant’s prior offenses. The offenses included the being kicked out of a shelter, an assault with a dangerous weapon charge, three bench warrants and two accounts of simple assault.
However, Loveland pointed out that most of his client’s priors were misdemeanors. He also said his client has a strong support system of family and employment connections in the community to warrant high-intensity probation. Loveland also noted that due to COVID-19, trials are on hold.
While Judge Edelman did acknowledge Loveland’s point regarding how COVID-19 has affected trials, he agreed with the prosecution’s argument on the defendant’s pattern of increasingly violent acts. He also noted the defendant’s support system has not prevented the recent criminal acts.
The defendant’s next hearing, a felony status conference, is scheduled for Nov. 23.
On Sept. 24, a DC Superior Court judge presided over seven pretrial and probation show cause hearings as well as a bench warrant return hearing.
Thomas White did not show up to his pretrial show cause hearing. In his first case, White is charged with prisoner escape. While on pretrial release for that case, he was re-arrested for second-degree burglary for allegedly stealing power tools from a construction site.
White, 59, has not been compliant with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) and has continued to pick up charges. The prosecution asked Judge Julie Becker to issue a bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest.
Due to White’s continued noncompliance, Judge Becker agreed to the request.
Christian Worley, 38, was also absent from her pretrial hearing. Worley is charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.
PSA reported that Worley has not been in contact with them since her arrest in April and has missed all weekly call-ins.
Judge Becker decided to issue a bench warrant for her arrest as well.
Marcus Brockington called in late to his pretrial show cause hearing. Brockington, 19, is charged with assault with serious bodily injury for allegedly attacking his victim to the point of unconsciousness at the Stadium Armory Metro Station on March 18.
Defense attorney Randy McDonald said that his client’s loss of contact with PSA was due to complications from the COVID-19 pandemic. McDonald said Brockington is living with high-risk family members who would be susceptible to the virus.
The defendant told Judge Becker that he was concerned about appearing in person today because he was scared of possibly infecting his family inadvertently.
Judge Becker ruled that Brockington must call-in weekly to PSA and that he must appear in person in court for his next hearing.
Teenia Knott, 33, did show up to her probation show cause hearing. Knott pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs on Aug. 23, 2019.
As part of her probation requirements, she has to undergo drug and alcohol treatment and GPS monitoring. Her probation officer has sent in reports of frequent breaks in curfew, which she said she believes is dangerous for Knott’s recovery.
The defendant tested negative on her last drug spot-test two days ago, so Judge Becker continued the show cause hearing for 60 days to ensure she continues to comply.
Kevin Jackson, 46, is charged with unlawful possession of liquid PCP.
The PSA originally reported that Jackson has been a loss of contact, but he has started reporting regularly over the past three weeks.
Judge Becker discharged the show cause hearing since the defendant has started being compliant with his release conditions.
Tyche Briscoe, 28, is charged with distribution of crack cocaine.
The defendant has had sporadic contact with PSA and mental health services. Briscoe said he did not own a phone until this past week.
Judge Becker ruled to continue the show cause hearing until next month to check on Briscoe’s compliance now that he has a phone.
Reginald Gardner, 23, is charged with carrying a pistol outside a home or business.
The PSA said that Gardner has only reported 4 out of the 13 weeks he was expected to and always from a different phone number. Defense attorney Joseph Yarbough said that he also has trouble getting in contact with his client because he did not have his own cell phone.
Judge Becker decided to discharge the show cause because Gardner said he now has a way to check in regularly.
A walk-in bench warrant case was seen by Judge Becker today in between her show cause hearings. Ricardo Lewis is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and was arraigned today by Judge Becker.
Lewis was not aware until yesterday that he had an outstanding bench warrant and he immediately turned himself in.
Judge Becker chose to release him on the condition that he report to PSA weekly by phone.
Metropolitan Police Police (MPD) detectives arrested a suspect in conncetion with a homicide that occrred on the 4000 block of South Capitol Terrace, SW.
Nathaniel Bates, 35, was arrested for first-degree murder while armed in the death of 28 year-old Eddie Christ.
On May 8 at around 8:05 a.m., MPD officers responded to a reported shooting where they found Christ suffering from gunshot wounds. He later died in the hospital after all life-saving efforts failed.
Bates’ previous arrest record includes possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a licence, possession of a large capacity of ammunition feeding device, assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, fleeing from law enforcement in a motor vehicle, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging firearms and assault with intent to kill.
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Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) seek the public’s help identifying and location the suspect or an assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse offense and a robbery offense that happened on Sept. 23.
At around 5:05 p.m., a suspect approached the victim on the 900 block of North Capitol Street, NW. The suspect assaulted her and assaulted her in an attempt to commit a sexual act. He then took property from her and fled the scene.
The suspect is described as a tall black male with a muscular build and a bald head. He was last seen wearing blue overalls.
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On Sept. 23, DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell released 20 defendants and held seven defendants in DC Jail during their initial hearings.
Three defendants charged with assault were held by Judge Crowell.
Isaac Edwards, 32, is charged with simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm and destruction of property less than $1,000. Edwards’ attorney asked for the defendant’s release under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).
“There is no convincing evidence that he would reappear in court,” Judge Crowell said. He said the seriousness of the defendant’s crimes and criminal history make it impossible for any conditions to ensure the public safety.
The second assault defendant is charged with simple assault, unlawful entry and obstructing justice in a domestic violence case. The defendant allegedly broke into the victim’s home and punched the pregnant woman in the stomach.
The defendant’s attorney asked for his release under HISP. Judge Crowell denied the request, saying that there is no condition or combination of conditions that could ensure the safety of the victim.
Ouethy Kadji, 32, is charged with simple assault and second-degree theft after allegedly attempting to take items from a 7-11 convenience store on the 1900 block of Wyoming Avenue, NW and then striking a worker in the eye.
At his hearing, Kadji acted strangely and spoke to himself without acknowledging the judge. Judge Crowell held Kadji so that he could receive a mental health screening on Oct. 8.
A domestic violence defendant was also held by Judge Crowell. The defendant is charged with contempt, violating conditions of release and violating a Temporary Protective Order (TPO).
Judge Crowell said he could not release the defendant because there would be no way to adequately protect the individual who the defendant was ordered to stay away from.
Isaiah Allen, 26, is charged with destruction of property less than $1,000 and unlawful entry onto private property. Probable cause was determined in his case and a hold was deemed necessary by Judge Crowell.
Defense attorney Jonathan Armstrong requested Allen’s release, explaining that Allen had a construction job and two children to care for. Judge Crowell explained his decision to hold Allen, saying the defendant had not complied with any of his conditions of release including getting a GPS monitor installed.
Two defendants were held in DC Jail for authorities from Delaware and Maryland to pick them up.
Christopher Brisco was held on underlying weapons charges from Delaware.
Tavante Robinson was held for Maryland authorities to pick him up, but he is also facing separate charges in DC.
Judge Crowell issued a bench warrant for Allen O’Brien, 27, who is being charged with armed robbery. The defendant failed to appear in court.
O’brien’s attorney asked for her client to be given another chance because he has had family issues.
Judge Crowell said, given the nature of the offense and O’Brien being released after his last bench warrant, he had no choice but to issue another bench warrant.
Judge Crowell also issued a bench warrant for a defendant who failed to report to Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) to have a GPS monitor installed. Vincent James, 36, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Of those released, seven defendants were charged with assault. Five were issued stay-away orders and one was issued a stay-away order and no Harassing, Assaulting, Threatening or Stalking (HATS) order.
Three defendants charged with destruction of property were released.
Eight more defendants were released. Two were released after being brought in on bench warrants. One was issued a bench warrant after failing to appear at his arraignment in 2018. The second defendant was brought in on two bench warrants after failing to appear at his hearing in 2019.
Judge Crowell also released two defendants, charged with being fugitives from justice, ordering them to turn themselves in to the demanding jurisdictions.
One final defendant had his hearing rescheduled because he was in the hospital.
On Sept. 22, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a two-day preliminary hearing for a first-degree murder defendant.
Kyree Fields is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of Keith Rawlings. Rawlings, 23, was shot to death on July 26 on the 800 block of Chesapeake Street, SE.
According to court documents, Fields, 20, was identified by surveillance footage and arrested on Sept. 9. He has been held at DC Jail since his arrest.
Defense attorney Kevann Gardner requested a two-day preliminary hearing to determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial.
He also requested access to the Body Worn Camera footage from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) as soon as possible.
“There might be hours of camera footage to go through and it would not be reasonable for us to receive that during the hearing,” said Gardner.
Judge Michael O’Keefe asked Gardner to formally petition Judge Juliet McKenna, the case judge, to order the release of the footage.
Fields’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26 and Oct. 27.
A DC Superior Court judge sentenced two co-defendants in a homicide case that dates back to 2018.
Titus Iracks, 19, and Dearren Dawkins, 24, were involved with the murder of Larry Harrell, who died on June 13, 2018, on the 1200 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE. Harrell, 43, was fatally shot in the course of an armed robbery gone wrong.
The defendants were originally charged with first-degree murder in August 2018. The following March, they were indicted on 10 counts, including felony murder and armed robbery.
The two accepted a plea deal in November. Both of them pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Also, Dawkins pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction while armed and Iracks pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license.
During the Sept. 22 sentencing, Harrell’s family and friends described him as a loving and caring individual, who is greatly missed.
Iracks and Dawkins apologized to the victim’s loved ones and asked for their forgiveness.
Iracks’ defense attorney, Ronald Resetarits, said his client had a turbulent upbringing in an unstable environment. He also said Iracks’ his background did not excuse his client’s behavior, but explains why it happened.
Resetarits said Iracks had taken advantage of his time at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), explaining that Iracks has graduated high school, wrote seven chapters of a book and regularly helped out staff.
Judge Danya A. Dayson sentenced Iracks to 8.5 years in prison plus five years of supervised release for the manslaughter charge and nine months plus five years of supervised release for the pistol charge. The sentences will run concurrently, and he will receive credit for time served.
Judge Dayson sentenced Dawkins to 9.5 years plus five years of supervised release for the manslaughter charge and one year plus five years of supervised release for the firearm charge. Like with Iracks, the sentences will run concurrently.
Iracks and Dawkins were in the parking lot of a convenience store looking to rob people of money and synthetic marijuana, according to court documents. The co-defendants confronted the victim, Harrell, at gunpoint and tried to rob him. Finding nothing, they released him and he ran off and hid behind a dumpster. The co-defendants suspected Harrell had a gun. Dawkins killed Harrell. Shortly after, Iracks was given the gun and fired shots into the air that did not hit the victim.
Dawkins and Iracks must pay $100 to the Crime Victim’s Compensation fund for each of their charges.
On Sept. 22, DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell released 25 defendants and held two defendants in DC Jail during their initial hearings.
Nathaniel Bates is charged with first-degree murder while armed for the death of Eddie Crist. The incident occurred on the 4000 Block of South Capitol Terrace, SW on May 8.
Bates’ stand-in attorney, Amy Phillips, asked the judge not to find probable cause due to the lack of forensic evidence and eyewitness testimonies tying back to her client.
The prosecution argued that Bates, 35, was wearing an ankle monitor for a pending trial which shows evidence that he was at the scene of the crime when the murder took place. However, the exact time stamps are a little off, according to Phillips.
Judge Crowell said he believes that there is probable cause because of the evidence showing Bates at the scene of the crime.
Phillips asked for Bates to be put under pretrial supervision as he is currently employed. However, due to Bates’ prior convictions, Judge Crowell opted to keep Bates held.
Judge Crowell scheduled Bates’ next hearing for Oct. 14.
Donnelle Brand is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.
The prosecution argued that Brand, 39, is a danger to the community because of his affinity for guns based on his history, which includes two firearms convictions and a pending firearms charge in Maryland. However, the defense believes there is no probable cause based on the circumstances.
According to court documents, Brand was found sitting on a handgun in his car after an accident had occurred. The defense argued that the firearm was in Brand’s purview rather than in his possession.
Judge Crowell disagreed and held Brand because he was “unequivocally under the law in constructive possession of a weapon.”
Judge Crowell scheduled Brand’s next hearing for Oct. 14.
Of those defendants released, 11 did not have charges filed against them by the prosecution.
There were three defendants charged in domestic violence cases. They were released by Judge Crowell.
The defendants are all charged with simple assault, while two had additional charges of destruction of property less than $1,000 and second-degree theft. Two of the defendants were given stay-away orders and one was given a no harassing, assaulting, threatening or stalking (HATS) order in reference to the alleged victims.
There were also six misdemeanor cases involving charges of second-degree theft, destruction of property, GPS tampering, assault on a police officer and simple assault. Five of the defendants were given stay-away orders while one was ordered to report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) once a week.
Judge Crowell released one defendant who is charged with a felony. The defendant is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, which was a gun, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Judge Crowell released the defendant on GPS monitoring and gave him a stay-away order from the alleged victim.
Four defendants brought in on bench warrants for failing to appear at their hearings were released. One defendant was released by mistake, so Judge Crowell re-issued the bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest.
Finally, two defendants, both charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, have been in the hospital since Sept. 21, so Judge Crowell moved their hearings to Sept. 23.
D.C. Witness does a great job of making otherwise complicated information on court procedures more accessible.
My editors always stood ready to explain any legal terms I didn’t understand and compelled me to do the same in my articles using the most straightforward language.
I also like how everything from the style of writing I ought to observe to the imagery on the D.C. Witness website begs for the reader’s attention but does not sensationalize.
As an aspiring journalist, I got an idea of what impartiality looks like.
I enjoyed the drama that would sometimes unfold in a court hearing, usually when attorneys came up with unusual arguments to defend their clients. It provided me with much needed comic relief at the end of long, stressful days.
Overall, I am very thankful for my time at D.C. Witness for the opportunity to improve my writing skills and to learn more about how justice is served in the nation’s capital.
Guzi He interned at D.C. Witness for the Summer of 2020. He is a student at the College of William & Mary.
On Sept. 22, a DC Superior Court judge gave a defendant the mandatory minimum for unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.
As part of a plea deal with the prosecution, Tyrone Carter’s other charges of carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of an unregistered firearm were dropped.
Defense attorney Bill Ponds asked for the mandatory minimum due to his client’s success while on pretrial release and his compliance with his release conditions.
Judge Julie Becker sentenced Carter to one year and one day plus three years of supervised release.
“I am giving you the lightest sentence I can,” she told the defendant. “I remember Mr. Ponds asking for your release, so you could work and spend time with your family, I’m glad I let you out and glad you came back.”
Carter must register as a gun offender and pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime (VVC) compensation fund, which is under the Crime Victims Compensation Program.
I have learned a lot from this internship.
Coming in, I was not quite sure what to expect. I knew that we would be going to court, however I was not aware that we would be writing journal articles on every single court hearing we attended.
By writing multiple articles daily, this has strengthened my writing skills.
I have also learned so much about the criminal justice system. By speaking/emailing with members of the court system to clarify certain things said in court or asking them about a defendant has taught me more about communication.
This internship has taught me a variety of skills and for that I am grateful. It has helped me prepare for my plans after I finish my undergraduate studies because I figured out that I most likely will not go to law school.
I am still interested in becoming involved with employment in the criminal justice system. While I’m not sure what that is yet, I am hoping it’s on a federal level. I also plan to continue my studies after college at a higher education program.
I enjoyed my time at D.C. Witness and have learned so much in such a short amount of time, especially with this past month online.
Corrine Simon interned at D.C. Witness during the Spring and summer of 2020. She is a student at Butler University.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a suspect in connection with an assault with a dangerous weapon that happened on Sept. 21.
At around 11:32 p.m., a suspect tried to assault victims with a hatchet on the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue, NE. When the victims fled, the suspect damaged a vehicle with the hatchet. He was then arrested.
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