On Aug. 3, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to probation for simple assault.
In exchange for pleading guilty to simple assault, the prosecution dropped Dwayne Thornton’s other charges of attempted threats to do bodily harm.
Judge John McCabe sentenced Thorton to 30 days in jail, all of which were suspended, plus one year of probation.
As conditions of his probation, Thornton must receive drug and alcohol treatment as well as anger management treatment.
On Aug. 3, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a burglary defendant to more than a year in prison.
Rodney Hart Jr., 21, pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree burglary on Feb. 28.
“He’s been given opportunity after opportunity to avoid jail and he’s failed,” said Judge O’Keefe. He sentenced Hart to 28 months of incarceration, 14 of which are suspended, plus three years of probation.
Judge O’Keefe said the defendant needed a harsher sentence, as he has a history of picking up new criminal charges while on probation.
When Hart completes his prison term, he must maintain or seek employment, undergo drug testing and treatment and participate in a mentorship program during his probation. He is also ordered to pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime fund.
On Nov. 7, 2019, Hart removed a flat screen television and various packages with an accomplice from the lobby of an apartment building on the 2100 block of L Street, NW, according to court documents.
The prosecution asked that Hart be sentenced to 24 months of incarceration and two years of probation. The prosecutor cited his extensive criminal history, which includes burglaries and forgeries.
“It’s necessary as a wake-up call,” the prosecutor said, noting that Hart has never received a prison sentence for any of his prior convictions.
Defense attorney Todd Baldwin asked Judge O’Keefe to sentence his client to 14 months of incarceration and suspend 12 of them.
Baldwin said his client’s criminal record does not contain any violent incidents. He also said Hart only committed the burglary out of “financial desperation,” and that his behavior was driven by his mental health problems.
A DC Superior Court judge decided not to release a defendant who is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Gary Reed, who is also known as Mike Davis, allegedly brandished a handgun in front of a taxi driver who parked his vehicle at a gas station on the 1400 block of U Street, NW on Dec. 19, 2019.
Defense attorney Stephany Reaves asked that her client be released and placed on the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP.) She said she disputes allegations that Reed actually displayed a gun during the incident. She also pointed out that Reed’s criminal history is entirely non-violent and that he has a job and a residence.
However, Judge Judith Smith said Reed has been involved in numerous drug-related offenses, has an outstanding bench warrant from the state of Maryland and that possessing a firearm represents “an escalation of the defendant’s prior behavior.”
Reed submitted motions for release in March and April because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both motions were denied by DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson.
This case was found to have enough evidence to proceed to trial on Dec. 23, 2019. However, Judge Smith said she would not object to setting another preliminary hearing, should the defense continue to dispute the probable cause finding.
Reed’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25.
On Aug. 3, a DC Superior Court judge decided against releasing a defendant who tested positive for COVID-19.
Lloyd Patterson, 35, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers became suspicious of the way Patterson was walking on March 28, according to court documents. The officers followed the defendant down the 4300 block of 3rd Street, SE. The defendant allegedly throw a bag of cocaine over a fence when he saw the officers approaching.
After apprehending Patterson, officers discovered that he was convicted of assault with intent to kill in a 2004 case.
Defense attorney Carrie Weletz requested that her client be released because he tested positive for COVID-19 at the DC Jail.
Judge Ronna Beck denied the defense’s request, citing that Patterson was under supervision for another case at the time of the arrest.
Judge Beck then continued the case in order to give the prosecution time to decide if they want to charge Patterson with more offenses related to the incident.
Patterson is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 7 to discuss the status of his case.
A DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing for an assault defendant.
David Dowdell is charged with simple assault, assault on a police officer and threats to do bodily harm in two cases.
Dowdell was not present for his Aug. 3 hearing. A Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative said he has not made contact with the agency.
Defense attorney Gregg Baron told Judge Jonathan Pittman that he reached out to shelters to see if his client was at any of them, but was told that the shelters typically don’t give that information over the phone.
The prosecution reiterated that they were not interested in holding Dowdell because he is not considered to be dangerous.
Dowdell was found mentally incompetent to stand trial on July 20. He was released to receive outpatient mental health services; however, those services are not currently available.
The judge and counsel acknowledged that they would have to figure out another way to get Dowdell mental health services.
Judge Pittman scheduled a hearing for Sept. 16.
Dowdell is accused of assaulting a victim on March 14 on the 700 block of 15th Street, NW. He also allegedly spit on and threatened to “execute” a police officer on July 9 on the 700 block of 15th Street, NW.
On Aug. 3, a defendant entered into a Deferred Sentencing Agreement (DSA) with the prosecution.
Tamar Cunningham, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm in exchange for the prosecution dismissing the other charges.
Cunningham was initially charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside of his home or business, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition for having a firearm.
As part of the DSA, Cunningham must complete 48 hours of community service within the six month deferment period. If he does so, his guilty plea will be withdrawn and his charge dismissed.
“You need to get it done,” Judge Gerald Fisher said.
Cunningham was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for speeding on Jan. 10. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers then recovered a firearm while searching his person on Fort Dupont Drive, SE.
Judge Fisher scheduled a hearing to review the DSA for Feb. 1, 2021.
On Aug. 3, a DC Superior Court judge found a defendant competent to stand trial.
Frank Borden, 29, is charged with destruction of property less than $1,000 for allegedly cracking two storefront windows and two windows on a nearby vehicle on the 800 block of East Capitol Street, SE on July 21.
A Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) report said that Borden was competent to stand trial. Neither party objected to the finding.
Borden is currently being held. Judge Michael Ryan scheduled a detention hearing for Aug. 26.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred in the Douglass neighborhood of Southeast, DC.
At around 8:18 p.m. on Aug. 2, police responded to the 1800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE for a report of a shooting.
There, they found Troy Coleman, a 21-year-old resident of Southeast, DC, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was brought to an area hospital, but was ultimately pronounced dead.
[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7012790-8-3-20-Homicide-1800-Block-of-Alabama-Avenue.html” responsive=true]
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are seeking the public’s assistance identifying the suspects of an unarmed carjacking that occurred on Aug. 2.
At around 3:36 a.m., the suspects approached a victim on the 2000 block of Benning Road, NE. They assaulted the victim and demanded the victim’s vehicle. They then entered the vehicle and fled the scene.
[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7012587-8-2-20-Suspects-Sought-in-an-Unarmed-Carjacking.html” responsive=true]
Police are seeking a woman involved in an assault with a knife that occurred at approximately 9:35 p.m. on Aug. 2 on the 1200 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE.
The suspect allegedly stabbed the victim while they were involved in a verbal altercation.
The victim was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The suspect can be seen in the photos below.
[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7012563-8-3-20-Suspect-Sought-in-an-Assault-With-a.html” responsive=true]
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) are seeking a suspect for a burglary that occurred at approximately 5:07 p.m. on Aug. 1 on the 100 block of 41st Street, NE.
The suspect can be seen in the photo below. An award of up to $1,000 is being offered for anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest and indictment.
[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7012519-8-3-20-Suspect-Sought-in-a-Burglary-Two-Offense.html” responsive=true]
Between 9 p.m. on August 2 and 9 a.m. on August 3, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert.
The most recent alert was sent at 10:14 p.m. for a stabbing on the 1200 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE. Police do not have a description of the suspect.
If anyone has information about this event, please call 911.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers have arrested 60-year-old Linwood Earl Forte, of Northwest, DC, and charged him with second-degree burglary.
Forte allegedly forcibly gained entrance to a residence on the 800 block of Upshur Street, NW on July 5. He took property from the residence and then fled the scene.
The case remains under investigation by MPD.
[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7012629-8-2-20-Arrest-Made-in-a-Burglary-Two-Offense-800.html” responsive=true]
On Aug. 2, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested 20 year-old Wesley Scott of Southeast DC for the murder of 28 year-old David Deandre Young.
The homicide occurred on Apr. 3 at approximately 6:50 p.m. When police arrived on the scene, they found Young suffering from a gunshot wound.
DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported Young to a nearby hospital for treatment but all life-saving measures failed.
A juvenile male victim was also injured but was treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound.
Scott has been charged with first-degree murder while armed.
The case remains under investigation by MPD.
[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7012602-8-2-20-Arrest-Made-in-a-Homicide-3400-Block-of.html” responsive=true]
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers have arrested 22-year-old Daniel Thompson, of Southwest, DC, and charged him with second-degree burglary.
Thompson allegedly forcibly entered an establishment located on the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, NW on May 31. He then took property and fled the scene.
The case remains under investigation by MPD at this time.
[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7012657-8-1-20-Arrest-Made-in-a-Burglary-Two-Offense.html” responsive=true]
