Judge Lifts Curfew for Armed Robbery Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge removed an armed robbery defendant’s curfew so she could explore employment opportunities.

Sixteen-year-old Tyliyah Gillis is accused of robbing a victim on March 7 on the platform of the Congress Heights Metro Station.

Gillis was detained after her initial hearing on March 10, according to DC Courts. She was released in this case two days later. However, she received notices of noncompliance with her release conditions, and, on Aug. 5, she was put under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with a curfew and GPS monitoring.

During the Aug. 31 hearing, a Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative said the defendant was violating her 10 p.m. curfew daily and was not consistently following GPS conditions.

The defendant said she had not complied due to scheduling issues with her job and unstable living conditions. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has reduced hours and routes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the defendant said she frequently missed buses and trains and was forced to wait.

Defense attorney Amanda Rogers said her client has found new employment opportunities and is able to stay with her mother.

Because of this, Rogers asked Judge Gerald Fisher to lift the curfew so that her client could pursue opportunities and comply with her release conditions.

Judge Fisher granted the request.

Judge Sets Hearing for Defendant with Multiple Charges

On Aug. 31 a DC Superior Court judge set a hearing date for a suspect charged with contempt.

Brittany Marshall, 26, is charged with contempt for allegedly violating a stay away order from the White House. She is also charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm and unlawful entry onto public property.

The prosecution offered Marshall a plea deal that would reduce her charges to one count of unlawful entry and one count of threats to do bodily harm. Marshall rejected the plea offer.

On Feb. 11, the defendant allegedly trespassed 15 feet into restricted White House territory on the 1600 block of E Street, NW. She received a stay away order from the White House zone, but allegedly returned to the area on Feb. 18, according to court documents.

Marshall also allegedly yelled at a community opportunity center employee on the 1300 block of Alabama Avenue, SE on Feb. 20.

Judge Michael Ryan scheduled a status hearing for Feb. 17.

Brittney Marshall 2020 CMD 002097

Bench Warrant Issued for Solicitation Defendant’s Arrest

A DC Superior Court Judge Gerald Fisher issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a defendant who did not show up to her Aug. 31 court hearing.

Sheronne Wilson, 40, is charged with sexual solicitation. She was arrested on the 5000 block of Meade Street, NE in the aftermath of an undercover operation that the Metropolitan Police Department conducted on Dec. 31, 2019.

Wilson was put on pretrial release with orders to stay away from the location of the alleged crime.

She failed to appear in court in March, with her defense attorney, Ravi Regunathan, saying Wilson was participating in a residential treatment program.

Her defense attorney said he had not been in contact with the defendant for the last few months.

Judge Modifies Defendant’s Pretrial Release Conditions

A defendant’s request to change his pretrial release conditions, citing new employment and education opportunities, was granted Aug. 31 by a DC Superior Court judge.

Melvin Johnson is charged with carrying a pistol outside a home or business, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and two counts of first-degree theft in three cases.

Johnson, 22, picked up the theft charges on March 14, 2019, and the weapons charges on Feb. 29. The defendant was put on pretrial release in his 2019 cases, but was detained at the DC Jail after picking up his more recent charges.

On April 22, Johnson was released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP.) He was restricted to 24-hour home confinement and forced to wear a GPS monitor. He was also given orders to stay away from two different locations in Northwest DC.

The Aug. 31 hearing was scheduled to address defense attorney Drew Flood’s motion to have his client’s release conditions modified.

During the hearing, Flood said the defendant has been in compliance with his pretrial conditions since April, and has new employment and educational opportunities. He asked Judge Gerald Fisher to lift Johnson’s stay away orders, and allow him to leave his home, so long as he continues to wear his GPS device.

Judge Fisher granted Johnson’s request to have his home confinement modified to allow him to visit pre-approved locations, so long as he stays in compliance with a new curfew.

According to court documents, two police officers with the Metropolitan Police Department were called to the 1100 block of 2nd Street, SE after a witness saw two individuals tampering with parked vehicles. The witness allegedly told MPD that the individuals were currently inside of a Subway restaurant in the area.

MPD quickly discovered that Johnson was wanted for numerous thefts in the area and arrested him.

Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Defendant Convicted of Gun Possession

DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a felon on probation.

Alaunte Scott, 19, was sentenced to one year of probation for carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business in December of 2019. His sentence was passed under the guideline of the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA.)

Scott was scheduled for a probation hearing on Aug. 31 to determine probable cause regarding the search. However, he failed to appear.

Scott picked up the case after an incident that occurred July 26 on the 1900 block of 17th Street, SE. on July 26. According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers noticed a bulge in Scott’s left pocket and recovered the weapon.

Judge Sentences Defendant to Three Years in Prison for Robbery

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to three years and three months in prison.

A grand jury found Suleman Muhammed Hamid, 24, guilty for robbery, assault with intent to commit robbery and possession of a controlled substance on March 3.

Judge Michale O’Keefe sentenced Hamid to 36 months for robbery and 36 months for assault with intent to commit robbery. The two sentences will run concurrently. Judge O’keefe also sentenced Hamid to 90 days for possession of a controlled substance, which will also run consecutive to the other sentences.

Once released, Hamid will also have to serve three years of supervised release. Hamid must also receive mental health treatments, participate in job training and maintain employment or enter into an educational program.

He is ordered to pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime fund for robbery, $100 for assault with intent to commit robbery, and $50 for possession of a controlled substance.

In 2018, security cameras caught Hamid robbing a man, according to court documents. Hamid reached in the victim’s pocket, grabbed his wallet and then punched him before fleeing the scene. At the time of the robbery, Hamid was driving a vehicle without permission. When the crime occurred, he was on probation for another robbery that took place in Maryland.

Hamid’s attorney, Nikki Lotez, asked for leniency and the mandatory minimum of two years.

Lotez also asked for her client to be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA,) but Judge O’Keefe denied the request due to the similar robbery case that occurred in Maryland. He also denied the request for Hamid to receive the mandatory minimum.

Lotez pointed out the doctor’s observation of paranoid behavior and indicators that suggest Hamid is struggling with mental illness.

But, Judge O’Keefe responded by recalling Hamid’s failure to appear in court, his failure to comply with the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) and an incident in which Hamid was outside the courtroom but left before the case was called.

Hamid has the right to appeal within the next 30 days.

Judge Finds Probable Cause for Child Sexual Abuse Case, Holds Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a sex abuse case has enough evidence to go to trial. The defendant will remain held at the DC Jail.

The defendant is charged with three counts of sexual abuse on minors in connection with an incident that occurred at the Gallery Place Chinatown Metro Station on July 6. According to court documents, the defendant, 23, approached three minors and exposed himself while making indecent remarks to them. He allegedly touched one of the victims above the genital area. Before the victims managed to get away as the train approached, the defendant allegedly slapped their buttocks and one of the victim’s breasts.

Using footage from Gallery Place Metro Station, DC Metro Transit Police officer identified the three victims and the defendant during the hearing.

The witness said he was close to L’Enfant plaza when he learned about the complaint while looking into another sexual abuse complaint involving an adult woman who was groped on an escalator.

The witness said the defendant was detained for both complaints.

During cross-examination, the witness told defense attorney Stephany Reaves that the description of the suspect came directly from a dispatcher and not from the victims themselves.

The witness said he never talked to the victims. All information given to him was by other officers.

Judge Todd Edelman decided to hold Morgan because of his criminal history. Morgan is on probation for a 2017 case that includes charges for indecent sexual proposals to a minor, lewd or obscene acts and assault.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused Morgan to not meet his probation officer and not start sexual harassment training.

Reaves argued that while the allegations are serious, it doesn’t involve any weapons or threats.

Reaves said Morgan has potential as he was enrolled in a GED program with Youthbuild. She asked for Morgan to be released and put on GPS monitoring so he can get the rehabilitation that he needs.

However, Judge Edelman stuck with his original decision to hold Morgan.

“The defendant’s release would pose a danger to the community,” he said. “The facts of this case involving sexual touching of children is concerning. Even more concerning is that this occurs while Mr. Morgan is under court supervision for a similar case.”

Judge Edelman scheduled a felony status conference for Nov. 13 to decide how to move forward with the case.

Felony Marijuana Case Continued for Possible Resolution

A DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing to possibly resolve a felony marijuana case.

Nolan Sundita, 32, is charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Sundita and his co-defendant, Moustafa Wali, picked up the case after Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers allegedly found around 40 pounds of marijuana while executing a search warrant of his Watergate Hotel room on Nov. 18, 2019.

During the Aug. 31 hearing, defense attorney Shawn Sukumar said his client was interested in taking a plea offer that the prosecution extended.

The plea offer does not apply to Wali, who has a bench warrant out for his arrest due to not appearing in court.

Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled Sundita’s next hearing for Sept. 28.

Judge Schedules Hearing for Assault Case

On Aug. 31, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a preliminary hearing to determine if an assault case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Andrew Wooten is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with a stabbing that occurred on June 12 on the block of 5700 3rd Street, NE.

Defense attorney Linda Houston also filed a motion to release her client from DC Jail until a determination was made on whether the case would go to trial. Her motion stated that Wooten should be released because he may have acted out of self-defense.

Judge Julie Becker said the motion would be addressed during the preliminary hearing, which she scheduled for Sept. 10.

Wooten was originally scheduled to have his preliminary hearing on Aug. 17. The hearing was postponed because he refused to take a mandatory COVID-19 test. Wooten said he did not know the test was mandatory and would take it before his next hearing.

According to court documents, Wooten, 35, was allegedly in the parking garage of an Extra Space storage center when the victim confronted him. The victim and Wooten began arguing after the victim asked Wooten to leave the premises because he didn’t believe Wooten had a storage unit there.

Judge Warns Defendant to Stay Away from Victim

A D.C. Superior Court judge warned a defendant to maintain compliance with his pretrial release conditions.

Alexander Dillard, 41, is charged with simple assault in a misdemeanor case in connection with an incident that occurred on June 12 on the 100 block of Irvington Street, SW.

During his Aug. 31 hearing, the prosecution said that Dillard violated an order to stay away from and not contact the victim.The prosecutor said the victim was very serious about Dillard honoring the no-contact order.

Judge Gerald Fisher warned that the defendant may end up in jail if he fails to comply over the following weeks.

After Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were dispatched to the incident, the victim said that she and Dillard had an argument that resulted in the defendant striking her twice in the face. The defendant then allegedly ran from the scene before MPD had arrived, but returned later that night, according to court documents.

The victim then called officers back to the scene. The police arrested Dillard was arrested for simple assault on July 12.

Dillard’s next hearing is set for Oct. 13.

Document: Several Suspects Arrested in Connection with Robberies

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has arrested suspects in connection with several robberies that happened in DC.

On Aug. 25, the MPD arrested two 17-year-old males for unarmed carjacking and robbery. At around 11:49 p.m. that day, the suspects allegedly approached the victims, who were in a vehicle, on the Unit block of L Street, SE. One suspect allegedly opened the vehicle’s doors and tried to take the keys. The other suspect allegedly took the other victim’s property, and then the two fled the scene.

Police also arrested a 28-year-old resident of Northwest, DC for a robbery that occurred on Aug. 25. At around 12:00 a.m., the suspect allegedly approached a victim on the Unit block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE, snatched the victim’s property and fled the scene. The suspect was arrested that same day.

One day earlier, a 19-year-old resident of Northeast, DC was arrested in connection with an armed robbery that occurred July 28 on the 100 block of Pierce Street, NW.

At around 1:25 p.m., the suspect and victim allegedly arranged to meet up to sell a vehicle. Two suspects approached the victim. After the victim paid for the vehicle, one suspect allegedly pulled out a handgun and told the victim to get out of the vehicle. The suspects fled the scene in the vehicle after the victim complied. The case remains under investigation.

On Aug. 23, police arrested a 20-year-old resident of Northwest, DC in connection with a robbery that took place that day. At around 9:40 p.m., the suspect allegedly approached the victim on the 3400 block of Holmead Place, NW. The suspect allegedly assaulted the victim and took her property.

Also on Aug. 23, police arrested a 20-year-old resident of Hyattsville, Md. in connection with an assault with intent to commit robbery that occurred that day.

At around 10:00 p.m., the suspect allegedly approached the victim on the 5900 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. The suspect allegedly assaulted the victim and then tried to take the victim’s property.

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Document: Suspect Sought for Parental Kidnapping and Burglary

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are seeking the public’s assistance locating the suspect of a parental kidnapping and burglary.

At around 12:47 a.m. on Aug. 30, a suspect forcibly entered a residence on the 1300 Block of T Street, SE. He then took a three-year-old child and fled in a white Chevy Suburban.

The child has since been located, but police are still seeking the suspect.

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Document: Homicide in Ward 5

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department are investigating a fatal shooting in Ward 5.

Officers found 25-year-old Kyree Pringle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 2800 block of V Street, NE on Aug. 27. He died on the scene.

The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case or any other homicide case 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.

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Judge Takes Armed Robbery Defendant Off Home Confinement

A DC Superior Court judge ended an armed robbery defendant’s home confinement. She gave him a curfew instead.

Brandon Ward, 18, is charged in connection with a May 9 car robbery that allegedly took place on the 300 block of Buchanan Street, NW.

Ward has been on home confinement since his initial hearing in May.

During the Aug. 28 pretrial show cause hearing, the prosecution said Ward left his home without permission on multiple occasions. The prosecutor asked Judge Rainey Brandt to issue a judicial warning.

Ward’s attorney, Ieshaah Murphy, said that Ward didn’t understand how serious the court orders were and that there will be no issues moving forward.

Murphy also said Ward doesn’t have a criminal history and should be taken off of home confinement..

Judge Rainey Brandt agreed.

“I am sympathetic because of the pandemic,” she said. “I can’t look this young man in the face and tell him that this case is going to be resolved by even early 2021.”

Ward’s curfew will last from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. He will continue to wear a GPS monitor, and he must report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA.) regularly

Judge Brandt scheduled Ward’s next pretrial show cause hearing for Oct. 29.

Judge Schedules Preliminary Hearing for Prison Breach Defendant

A DC Superior Courts judge scheduled a hearing to determine if a prison breach case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Lionel Shackleford, 38, is charged with prison breach for allegedly leaving Hope Valley Halfway House without permission on April 7.

Shackleford transferred to the halfway house on May 20, 2019, to fulfill his pretrial release order. Around 7:45 p.m., he allegedly walked out with his personal property and entered a vehicle.

The staff later called in an escape.

Shackleford is being held at the DC Jail without bail.

Judge Julie Becker set the preliminary hearing date for Sept. 23.

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