Defendant Released to High Intensity Supervision Program

On July 30, a DC Superior Court released a defendant facing multiple charges into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP.)

The defendant is charged with simple assault in two domestic violence cases. He is also charged with contempt for allegedly violating his release conditions, unlawful entry onto private property, possession of a controlled substance and simple assault in two misdemeanor cases.

Judge Judith Pipe decided to release the defendant from pretrial detention. She said that, because of the defendant’s lack of a criminal history, he does not present a risk to the community.

Defendant Pleads Guilty

On July 30, a defendant entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution.

Hiawatha Henry, 28, pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence along with the assault with a dangerous weapon.

As part of a plea deal, the prosecution agreed to not indict Henry on further charges from the incident.

He was initially charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for stealing a vehicle from a victim on Dec. 23, 2019, on the 51st Street, NE. He also threatened the same victim with a handgun when a trade for the vehicle was arranged on Dec. 26, 2019, at the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Ely Place, SE.

Both parties recommended that Henry receive six years of incarceration for the possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. They also suggested that his sentences in the other charges run concurrently to the possession sentence.

Judge Dayna Dayson oversaw the proceedings and accepted Henry’s guilty plea. He will appear before Judge Dayson again on Sept. 24 for sentencing.

Judge Continues Hearing After Defendant Fails to Appear

A DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing for a defendant who failed to appear in court.

Jason Washington is charged with second-degree theft and second-degree burglary for allegedly stealing items from a store on the 4400 block of Benning Road, NE on Dec. 21, 2019, Jan. 20, and Feb. 24. He was arrested for the thefts on April 2.

A hearing was scheduled for July 30 to address Washington’s issues complying with his pretrial release conditions. Notices of noncompliance were filed on May 29, July 16 and July 20.

However, Washington failed to appear at the hearing.

The defendant was released on April 2 with GPS tracking device and the condition that he reports weekly to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) . He failed to charge his GPS or report to pretrial services.

A PSA officer said that Washington has been rearrested four times in Prince George’s County since his release, which may have contributed to the loss of contact.

Defense attorney Adam Hunter said the loss of contact may also be due to changes in procedure with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have been having difficulty with not just this client, but all of them, on getting good information including proper addresses and actual cell phone numbers that are working,” Hunter said.

Judge Julie Becker said if the defendant fails to appear at the next hearing, a bench warrant will be issued for his arrest.

Washington’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 11.

Defendant Receives One Year of Probation

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to one year of probation.

Olonzie Coney pleaded guilty to simple assault, second-degree theft and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon. He was initially charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for spitting on a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer’s face and then pulling out a knife from his pocket during an arrest on March 1 on the 100 block of 19th Street, SE. Coney, 35, was also charged with second-degree theft for stealing from a store on the 700 block of 14th Street, NW.

As part of a plea deal the prosecution agreed to not seek an indictment on further charges in the case.

Judge Dayna Dayson sentenced Coney to 30 days of incarceration with credit for time served in the second-degree theft case. Coney also received a 120-day suspended sentence in the assault case, plus one year of probation.

He will not have to spend any more time behind bars.

Judge Dayson said that she gave Coney this sentence because he has already spent 115 days in jail.

Judge Dayson also ordered that Coney stay away from the places of the incidents and complete substance abuse tests.

Lucas Dansie, Coney’s attorney, said his client’s behavior is a reflection of alcohol dependency and addiction.

Defendant Enters Agreement for Leaving After Colliding

On July 30, a defendant entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) for leaving after colliding with another vehicle.

John Dillon, 32, reversed into a vehicle’s front bumper after the victim honked at him for not moving at a green light on the 1900 block of 15th Street, NW, on Oct. 10, 2019.

The defendant must complete a traffic safety program and not violate the law or be arrested on probable cause during the nine month deferment period.

If he completes the requirements, his charge will be dismissed.

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Smith scheduled Dillon to return to court on April 30, 2021, to evaluate his progress.

‘You Saved my Life,’ Defendant Says

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to one year of incarceration, all of which was suspended, plus one year of probation.

Cynthia Forth pleaded guilty to attempted distribution of a controlled substance for selling cocaine to undercover officers on the 1700 block of Minnesota Ave, SE on July 24. She also pleaded guilty to bail violations that arose from her failure to appear for court hearings on Oct. 25, 2019, and Jan 30.

Forth received two 90-day sentences that are set to run consecutively to one another for her bail violations. She was also sentenced to six months, which will also run consecutively, for attempted distribution of a controlled substance.

The defendant has been held since Feb. 20 because she violated her pretrial release conditions.

“I was so hurt when you stepped me back, but you saved my life,” the defendant told Judge Judith Smith. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen and heard a lot. This is not a place I want my life revolved around.”

As conditions of her probation, the defendant must participate in mental health and substance abuse testing and treatment as directed by the Court Services Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA.) She must also receive specialized supervision by a mental health unit and drug and alcohol testing and treatment if recommended by the CSOSA.

Judge Smith also ordered Forth, 48, to obtain a sponsor through community resources, receive housing assistance and pay $200 to the Victims of Violent Crimes Act fund.

Defense attorney Derrick Page said his client’s bail violations were driven by substance abuse problems, which are no longer an issue.

“She’s clearly got her spark back,” said the prosecutor, who did not ask for further incarceration.

Judge Smith was unable to place the defendant into inpatient treatment due to limitations from the COVID-19 h pandemic.

Page said the defendant has friends and family who will assist her with maintaining sobriety and housing.

“I’m ready to go home and get my life back together,” Forth said.

Judge Orders Mental Competency Examination For Defendant

On July 30, a DC Superior Court judge ordered a mental competency examination for a defendant.

Paul Pearson, 22, is charged with destruction of property less than $1,000, assault with a dangerous weapon, leaving after colliding with property damage and fleeing a law enforcement officer.

Pearson was supposed to undergo a mental competency examination on July 22. Defense attorney Stephen Brennwald said it “simply never happened.”

Judge Michael Ryan said the earliest date a doctor from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) will be available to conduct the test is Aug. 6.

He set a mental observation hearing for Aug. 7, saying he will accept an oral report because he did not want to wait an additional few days for a physical report.

“He’s been locked up for a month,” said Judge Ryan. “He’s supposed to have the exam last week but that didn’t happen.”

Pearson allegedly smashed a window pane at a bakery on the 500 block of 29th Street, NW on June 6. He was arrested and held at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) headquarters on the 300 block of Indiana Avenue, NW, where he allegedly tried to strangle a man a day later. Pearson was released on June 8. On June 26, he allegedly fled in his vehicle after it collided with an MPD cruiser on the 5900 Georgia Avenue, NW, according to court documents.

Police Arrest 3rd Suspect for Murder of 11-year-old Boy

On July 29, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrested the third of four suspects in the death of an 11-year-old boy.

Carlo General, a 22-year-old resident of Oxon Hill, Md.,was arrested for first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the shooting of Davon McNeal on July 4 on the 1400 block of Cedar Street, SE. DC Police do not think that McNeal or anyone in his family was a target.

Earlier this month, DC Superior Court Judge Gerald Fisher issued a bench warrant for General because he failed to show up to a July 15 hearing for pretrial release violation. General was released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) in March 3 for carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition charges from a 2019 case.

A notice of noncompliance was then filed on March 12, according to DC Courts.

Daryle Bond, 18, and Christian Wingfield, 22, were arrested on July 9 and 10, respectively, for first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting.

Police are still searching for Marcel Gordon, a 25-year-old resident of Southeast, DC. He is also wanted for first-degree murder while armed in connection to the Independence Day shooting.

The department along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division and the FBI Washington Field Office is offering a reward of up to $55,000 for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspects in this case.

On top of that, the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Task Force has offered up to $10,000 for each suspect for information leading to their arrest.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line – 50411.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7010290-7-29-20-Third-Arrest-Made-and-an-Additional.html” responsive=true]

Andrea Keckley wrote this article

Document: Police Seek Second Suspect in Robbery Investigation

On Friday, July 24, detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to a robbery of force and violence on the 600 block of H Street, NW.

Suspects approached the victim at approximately 3:05 a.m. where they assaulted the victim and stole the victim’s property.

Police have already arrested a 22-year-old male for the robbery and now seek the public’s help in identifying a second suspect.

The picture of the individual can be seen in the document below.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7010306-7-29-20-Additional-Suspect-Sought-in-a-Robbery.html” responsive=true]

Hearing Continued After Defendant and Attorney Fail to Appear

On July 29, a DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a pretrial show cause hearing for July 31 after a defendant and his attorney did not appear in court.

Joshua Foxworth was charged with first-degree theft and recieving stolen property in April of 2019 in connection with a series of thefts ranging as far back as December of 2018.

Foxworth has been released awaiting trial under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) since November of 2019. He has received several notices of noncompliance with his pretrial release conditions, which were scheduled to be addressed during the July 29 hearing.

Foxworth faces a total of 47 charges: 20 counts of receiving stolen property worth $1,000 or more; five counts of second-degree theft; four counts of destruction of property worth less than $1,000; four counts of unlawful entry of a motor vehicle; three counts of first-degree theft; three counts of misdemeanor credit card fraud; conspiracy and trafficking stolen property.

At some point after his initial pretrial release in April, he allegedly committed additional offenses. Several additional charges included first-degree theft offenses committed during release, receiving stolen property worth $1,000 or more committed during release, destruction of property worth less than $1,000 committed during release, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle committed during release and misdemeanor credit card fraud committed during release.

Crime Alerts: July 29-30

Between 9 p.m. on July 29 and 9 a.m. on July 30, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out six crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 3:47 a.m. for a stabbing on the 5000 block of Benning Road, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect.

An alert for a shooting on the 800 block of Chesapeake Street, SE was sent at 3:26 a.m. Police do not have a description of the suspect.

An alert for a confirmed shooting went out at 3:23 a.m. on the 2200 block of Mount View Place, SE. Police are looking for a Silver sedan last seen at the listed location.

Another alert for a confirmed shooting went out at 2:28 a.m. on the 3900 block of South Capitol Street, SE. Police are looking for 3 Black males. The first suspect is wearing all dark clothing. The second suspect is wearing a red hat, white tank top and blue jeans. The third suspect is wearing a white tank top and blue jeans. The suspects were last seen leaving the scene in a burgundy Infinity.

Another alert for a shooting went out at 1:33 a.m. on the 5300 block of Clay Terrace, NE. Police are looking for a four-door grey sedan with the front passenger rim missing.

The final alert was sent at 10:19 p.m. for an armed robbery at 9:55 p.m. on the 1300 block of North Carolina Avenue, NE. Police are looking for a Black male, dark complexion, slim build, 5’6″ to 6’0″ in height, wearing a black and white hooded sweatshirt, loose fitted jeans and a blue and white surgical mask.

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

Crime Alerts: July 29

The Metropolitan Police Department sent out two crime alerts after 10 a.m. on July 29.

The most recent crime alert was sent at 6:36 p.m. for a robbery on the 400 block H Street, NE. Police are looking for a black male with a thin build, black mask and white shirt. The suspect may be armed with a gun. He was last seen occupying a silver Mercedes with Virginia tags.

At 3:10 p.m. police sent out an alert for a stabbing on the 800 block of Howard Road, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect.

Anyone with information about these crimes should call 911.

Bench Warrant Issued for Defendant’s Arrest After Failure to Appear

A DC Superior Court judge issued a warrant for the arrest of a defendant who did not show up to her hearing.

Charlie Tilgman, 31, was scheduled to come before the court on July 29 to address three cases she has picked up from October of 2019 to May.

Tilgman is charged with misdemeanor simple assault, possession of cocaine and possession of a prohibited weapon. Her assault and weapons charges stem from a single incident in May, in which she allegedly attacked a man with a brick before kicking and spitting in the eye of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers upon her arrest.

Thomas Key, Tilgman’s attorney, told Judge John Campbell that his client is homeless and that he has not been able to contact her.

The Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) filed notices of noncompliance on both June 12 and July 10. Tilgman’s July 29 hearing had been scheduled to address the noncompliance notices for all three cases.

Judge Releases Domestic Violence Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge released a domestic violence defendant awaiting trial.

The defendant is charged with threats to do bodily harm.

He failed to appear for an April 30 hearing, and therefore received a bench warrant for his arrest.

A Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative said the defendant did not violate the terms of his pretrial release other than an attempt to remove his GPS tracking device.

Judge John McCabe allowed the defendant to remain on pretrial release, but reminded him that he has to wear the device even though he “may not enjoy it.”

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 15.

Judge Holds Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge found probable cause for a defendant charged with first-degree murder.

On April 29, Ch’Juan Robinson, 23, allegedly shot Louis Kingsbury, 34, on the 200 block of New York Avenue, NW.

During the July 29 hearing, a detective showed still images captured from surveillance footage that showed a person, who the detective identified as Robinson, fleeing the scene.

Defense attorney Dana Page said the detective did not convincingly identify the defendant.

“It’s unclear how he links the person in the stills to the one photoed sitting in the car,” said Page, referring to an image captured after Robinson was arrested by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers that actually showed his face.

She also said that none of the four witnesses interviewed by the MPD actually saw the shooting. Page said the witnesses could not have known whether the person they saw fleeing actually produced the gunshots they heard.

The prosecution objected to the defense asking the detective about the origins of stitches found on the victim, which he acquired in a physical altercation with another individual a few weeks ago.

But, Judge Julia McKenna allowed the questions, saying it may suggest the murder was perpetrated by someone other than Robinson.

The detective said the victim was cooperating with law enforcement to identify a street gang known as the “O Street Crew” in exchange for lessening his sentence for a drug-related offense. He said the defendant was affiliated with the gang and likely wanted to punish the victim.

“They are known to kill anyone who has snitched on them,” said the detective.

Judge McKenna said there was “overwhelming evidence” that a murder was committed.

She denied a request for Robinson’s release, citing his history of gun-related offenses and the fact that he picked up his current case while on supervised release for a 2019 conviction of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Robinson’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23.

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