Judge Issues Bench Warrant to Get Back in Contact with Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for a defendant who did not show up to his Aug. 10 hearing.

Michael Musgrove, 23, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a permit. According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found him and his co-defendant, Elizabeth Benson, in a vehicle that was reported stolen by the state of Virginia. When officers searched the vehicle, they found cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

Judge Michael O’Keefe issued a bench warrant for Musgrove’s arrest, saying the bench warrant was issued in order to get back in contact with him.

On April 5, Musgrove was released and ordered to verify his address with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA). He was also required to report to the agency weekly. However, during the hearing, a PSA representative said the defendant has not yet verified his address or reported by telephone.

Musgrove is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 21 to discuss the status of his case.

Bench Warrant Issued for Defendant’s Arrest

On Aug. 7, a defendant was issued a bench warrant for the fourth time in less than a year.

Sterling Moore is charged with simple assault, bail violation and assault on a police officer in four cases. He allegedly assaulted a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who wa sitting in a parked police car outside of the Robert Taft Memorial in DC on Sept. 11. Since then, he has picked up three bail violation charges for failing to appear for various court hearings from October of 2019 to January.

A Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative said Moore, 31, has been a loss of contact since his release on March 27. He has also failed to enroll in the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP.)

Defense attorney Claudine Harrison told DC Superior Court Judge Gerald Fisher she was unaware of her client’s location.

Moore’s next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

Judge Releases Defendant Charged with Simple Assault

A DC Superior Court judge released a defendant charged with simple assault.

On May 24, Wendell Clay, 40, allegedly assaulted a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer. The officer asked him to leave a basketball court on the 1600 block of 30th Street, SE due to COVID-19 and the Mayor’s Order in place.

During the Aug. 7 hearing, the prosecution screened an Instagram video showing Clay pushing the officer onto the ground before punching him in the face.

Clay said during the hearing that the officer first pushed him when being approached, prompting him to act in self defense. He said he felt “agitated” because the officer was not trying to disperse a group of people who were playing tennis nearby.

Defense attorney Kevin Robertson said the officer’s actions could not be seen in the video.

The prosecution asked that Clay be held at the DC Jail due to his extensive criminal history.

However, Robertson responded by saying that his client has already been detained for 76 days.

“He can’t sit in the DC Jail waiting for court dates that do not yet exist,” he said.

Judge O’Keefe decided to release the defendant with GPS monitoring. He also said he wanted to give the defendant some time to address a case he picked up in Maryland.

Document: Police ID Victim from 2017 Homicide As A Suspect in 2002 Homicide

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Homicide Cold Case Unit announced that they have identified a suspect in a double homicide that occurred in 2002.

The suspect was the victim of a homicide in 2017.

At around 3:25 a.m. on Aug. 12, 2002, officers responded to the 4900 block of C Street, SE for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Ukea Davis, an 18-year-old resident of Northeast, DC, and Stephanie Thomas, a 19-year-old resident of Southeast, DC, inside a vehicle. The victims were suffering from gunshot wounds. They died on the scene.

Michael Dupree Price has been identified as a suspect in this case. Price, a resident of Southeast, DC, was shot to death on May 5, 2017, on the 4600 block of Benning Road, SE. He was 36 years old when he died.

According to a press release, this case remains under investigation and additional suspects may still be at large.

This article was written by Andrea Keckley.

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Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Domestic Violence Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for a domestic violence defendant who the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) deemed a loss of contact.

At the time of her arrest in this case, Paulette Riggins was released on GPS monitoring while waiting to be sentenced for robbery. She pleaded guilty on March 13. She has been on release since Feb. 14.

During the Aug. 10 hearing, a PSA representative said that Riggins has not charged her GPS since July 15 and has not contacted PSA since March.

Defense attorney Edward Gain asked Judge Michael O’Keefe to give his client more time to appear before the court. However, Judge O’Keefe denied the request and issued a bench warrant for her arrest.

Riggins is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 28 unless both parties agree on an earlier date once the defendant is detained.

Judge Issues Bench Warrant for No-Show Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a defendant who did not show up to his Aug. 10 court hearing.

Troye Robertson, 28, is charged with unlawful possession of liquid PCP. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found the PCP when they searched him during an arrest for tampering with evidence on May 15 on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE.

On May 16, Robertson was released on his promise to return to court. He was ordered to report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA.)

A PSA representative said Robertson has not been in contact with them since he was released in May.

The defendant is also on probation for a prior conviction. However, he has not been in contact with the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) either.

Robertson’s attorney, Sean Murphy, asked Judge Michael O’Keefe to give Robertson more time to appear in court. Judge O’Keefe denied the request.

Robertson is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 30 to discuss the status of his case.

20 Victims in Southeast, DC Shooting

One person died, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officer was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and many others were injured during an Aug. 9 shooting in Southeast, DC.

During a press conference, MPD Chief of Police Peter Newsham said there was a large gathering at 12:20 a.m. on the 3300 block of Dubois Place, SE.

“During the course of the event, gunshots rang out,” he said. “There was multiple shooters. After the shooting occurred, we ended up with 20 victims.”

The shooting killed 17-year-old Christopher Brown. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead.

An NBC Washington article reports that Brown was the father of a 1-year-old boy.

An MPD officer was also injured. She was off duty at the time of the incident.

“She is struggling for her life right now at a local hospital,” said Newsham.

Two of the victims were 17-year-olds. The rest were adults.

Other than Brown and the police officer, Newsham said that “the rest of the gunshot wounds, as far as we know, are non-life-threatening.”

Crime Alerts: August 9-10

Between 9 p.m. on Aug. 9 and 9 a.m. on Aug. 10, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out five crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 6:38 a.m. for an armed robbery on the 1300 block of 1st Street, NE. Police are looking for a Hispanic male carrying a yellow pipe. He was last seen driving a Honda or a Nissan Maxima.

An alert for a robbery was sent at 5:14 a.m. at the intersection of Naylor Road and Minnesota Avenue, SE. Police are looking for three suspects in their teens. The first suspect is a Black, heavyset female with dreadlocks and a dark complexion wearing a white shirt. The second suspect is a slim, Black female with light skin, long braids and wearing a white top. The third suspect is a Black male with a bush hair style.

An alert sent at 1:08 a.m. was for a shooting on the 5000 block of D Street, SE. Police are looking for a silver vehicle that was seen fleeing the scene.

Another alert for a shooting was sent at 12:05 a.m. on the 700 block of T Street, NW. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

The final alert was sent at 11:09 p.m. for a robbery on the 2100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Police are looking for a large group of Black males and females.

If anyone has information about these events, please call 911.

Judge Continues Prison Breach Hearing

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna continued an Aug. 10 hearing to Aug. 28.

Lionell Shackelford is charged with prison breach for allegedly leaving Hope Village Halfway House on April 7.

Shackelford, 38, was housed there on a work-release program for another pending case in which he is charged with assault with intent to commit robbery.

In that case, Shackelford allegedly tried to steal money and a car from an individual, assaulting him with a gun and threatening to kill him. The incident occurred on Sept. 11, 2018, on the 3800 block of 2nd Street, SE.

Document: Police Make Arrest in Murder Case

The Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Homicide Branch made an arrest for a homicide that occurred on Aug. 8 on the 1900 block of Good Hope Road, SE.

At around 8 a.m. on Aug. 8, officers responded to a residence at the listed location for a welfare check.

An unconscious and unresponsive adult female, now identified at 40-year-old Latasha Estep, was found suffering from multiple puncture wounds.

She was confirmed deceased on the scene.

The offense has been ruled a homicide and domestic in nature.

A 39-year-old male, of Southeast, DC, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed.

The man was on pretrial release for a domestic-violence related assault at the time of the murder.

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Document: Homicide in Le Droit Park

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 7 in Le Droit Park, a neighborhood in Northwest, DC.

At about 6:20 p.m., officers responded to the 1900 block of 6th Street, NW. for the report of a shooting.

Officers located an adult male, now identified as 30-year-old Rashad Scott, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Scott was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead.

MPD is offering an award up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the homicide.

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Judge Schedules Next Two Hearings for Defendant

On Aug. 7, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a defendant’s next two hearings.

Anthony Lamons, 26, is charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm, simple assault and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon for an incident that occurred on June 8 at the Noma Gallaudet Metro Station.

Defense attorney Adrian Madsen asked Judge John Campbell to schedule two hearings for his client: one to discuss the case’s status and another to discuss the defendant’s detention.

Judge Campbell scheduled the misdemeanor initial status hearing for Aug. 13 and the detention hearing for Aug. 25.

The prosecution has extended a plea officer, which the defendant was not inclined to accept or deny at the time of the hearing.

Judge Schedules Next Hearing for Defendant with Drug Charge

On Aug. 7, a DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing to give the defense more time to consider a plea offer.

Clenteous McCoy, 22, was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance after Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found a substance that tested positive for cocaine while conducting a search warrant on June 17 on the 300 block of 63rd Street, NE.

Defense attorney Sara Kopecki said that the prosecution extended a plea offer, which her client is seriously considering.

Judge John Campbell continued the hearing to Aug. 12 at the agreement of both parties.

Judge Holds Six Out of 34 Defendants During Initial Hearings

On Aug. 7, DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann released 28 and held six defendants in DC Jail.

Judge Herrmann held a defendant who is charged with contempt for violating a stay away order in a domestic violence case. This is the defendant’s third case with the same victim.

She decided to hold the defendant because he was unsuccessful with GPS supervision previously and was a loss of contact with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA).

Dion Parker is charged with fugitive from justice for fleeing from Maryland, where he has a pending robbery case.

Parker is being held so he may be extradited to Maryland.

Judge Herrmann also held Cordell Phillips, who is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed with a knife.

Gerald James was charged with two charges of tampering with his GPS monitoring device. Judge Herrmann released him on those charges, but he was held on a parole warrant.

Walter Parker was charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm and leaving after colliding. Judge Herrmann released him on the charges presented before her, but he was held in another pending federal case.

Alexander Gant-Jenkins was charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business. Jenkins was found on a party bus along with 13 other individuals where at least four firearms were recovered. Gant-Jenkins allegedly had a firearm on his person as well as crack cocaine, Oxycodone and what appeared to be synthetic cannabinoids.

Gant-Jenkins’ defense attorney requested he be released, citing his lack of adult criminal history. Judge Herrmann decided to hold him, however, citing the drugs found on his person as well as him being under supervision in a prior juvenile matter.

Three co-defendants of Gant-Jenkins were all charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside of the home or a business and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device. All were released with orders not to possess firearms in DC due to their lack of criminal history.

There were three additional domestic violence cases, and Judge Herrmann released all of them with stay-away orders from the victims and location of the incidents.

Three defendants charged with being fugitives from justice were released with orders to turn themselves into the demanding jurisdictions where they are wanted for various charges.

Five additional felony cases were heard involving possession of firearms, possession or distribution of drugs and robbery. Three were given orders not to possess firearms and two were given stay-away orders.

Five misdemeanor cases and one traffic case was presented before Judge Herrmann, and she released all defendants with various release conditions.

Two defendants were brought in on bench warrants for failing to appear for their hearings, and both were released with new hearing dates.

Two defendants, one charged with being a fugitive from justice and one with second-degree theft, were in the hospital, so Judge Herrmann re-scheduled their hearings for Aug. 8.

Of those released, six had no charges filed against them by the prosecution.

Defendant Pleads Guilty, is Released Awaiting Sentencing

On Aug. 7, a defendant pleaded guilty and was released awaiting sentencing.

Carina Powell, 27, was charged with robbery for demanding money from a bank on the 3800 block of 12th Street, NE, on Feb. 24.

As part of a plea agreement with the prosecution, Powell pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of attempt to commit robbery.

After Powell pleaded guilty, defense attorney Raymond Jones asked that his client be released while waiting to be sentenced. Jones said that Powell has asthma and has been held for five months already. He also said that she accepted responsibility for the crime very quickly.

Judge Michael Ryan agreed to release Powell, saying the only way he will know if she can do well on probation is if she has experience in the community prior to sentencing. Judge Ryan required Powell to enroll in the Specialized Supervision Unit (SSU) of the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) and get tested for alcohol. He also ordered Powell to comply with a 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. curfew and attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings.

Powell is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 7.

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