Domestic Violence Defendant Sentenced to Probation

On July 16, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a domestic violence defendant to one year of probation after she accepted a plea agreement.

The defendant was charged with simple assault in two cases. She pleaded guilty in the first case.

Judge John McCabe sentenced the defendant to 120 days time suspended plus one year of probation.

As part of her probation, the defendant is required to receive a drug and alcohol assessment and treatment, enroll in a Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) and not Harass, Assault, Threaten or Stalk (HATS) the victim.

As part of a plea agreement with the prosecution, her more recent case was dismissed.

The victim asked that the defendant be released.

In a statement read by the prosecution, the victim wrote to the court asking for her romantic partner to receive as lenient sentence due to medical conditions.

“I have been very depressed because of her incarceration,” the victim said.

The defendant expressed regret towards her actions, saying she wants to move past the situation as quickly as possible and has plans to marry the victim in September.

She was first charged with assault for punching her romantic partner and dragging her down a street in front of a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer and a civilian.

“I’m really hopeful this will be fine and the last time you have to talk to a judge,” Judge McCabe said.

Judge Releases Defendant Charged with Burglary

A DC Superior Court judge released a defendant charged with second-degree burglary.

Larry Davis, who is also known as “Stacey Davis,” is charged with second-degree burglary for allegedly stealing from a pizza parlor on the 200 block of M Street, SE on May 30. Davis is transgender.

Davis expressed frustration during the July 16 hearing after a representative from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) said she had been a loss of contact with them.

“I had no place to live,” Davis repeatedly said throughout the hearing.

Defense attorney Thomas Lester said his client was “confused” and had to borrow another person’s phone to call the PSA. .

Judge Gerald Fisher said he would continue Davis’ case for four weeks, she must contact the PSA and her probation officer.

Davis’ next hearing is scheduled for July 30.

Judge Holds Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge held a defendant awaiting sentencing for attempted robbery.

On March 2, David Blake, who is also known as David Smith, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery for an incident that occurred at a pharmacy on the 300 block of 40th Street, NE on Jan. 10.

He was released awaiting sentencing on March 26 under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). However, he received several notices of noncompliance with his release conditions.

In a subsequent hearing, Judge Michael O’Keefe said he would revoke the defendant’s release conditions, but gave him extra time to get his affairs in order. The judge told the defendant that once he stepped back, he could receive additional jail time at his sentencing.

However, Blake continued to receive notices of noncompliance, prompting Judge Gerald Fisher to detain him during a July 16 hearing.

The prosecution said GPS tracking records show he violated the rules of his home confinement.

Defense attorney Rachel Cicurel said she only received the records two days ago and was denied an evidentiary hearing, which prevented her from contesting the evidence against her client.

She also asked that Blake not be detained, saying his pneumonia makes him more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19.

When asked why Blake was outside his residence multiple times, the defense said he had to shop for groceries and take short walks due to his health.

“He’s not done anything wrong, he always charges his GPS,” said Cicurel.

Judge Fisher was not convinced, saying the defendant always leaves home for two to three hours, which was far too long.

Blake is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 3.

Judge Changes Defendant’s Probation Conditions to Include GPS Monitoring

On July 15, DC Superior Court Judge John McCabe required a defendant, who is already on probation, to start wearing a GPS monitoring device.

Aloysius Carter pleaded guilty to violating a Civil Protective Order (CPO). The prosecution said he was released in June 2019. According to DC Courts, he received pretrial release for a charge of destruction of property less than $1,000 at this time.

Since then, Carter, 61, violated the terms of his probation by failing to report to drug testing and violating the same CPO. He was also re-arrested for attempted threats to do bodily harm on June 24.

The prosecution said the person who filed the CPO against Carter fears for her safety around him. She has had to deal with the defendant violating the CPO for multiple years.

Carter’s next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27.

Judge Sets Domestic Violence Defendant’s Release Conditions

A DC Superior Court judge set a domestic violence defendant’s release conditions while he remains detained in the DC Jail on other charges.

The defendant is being held in DC Jail for a federal matter through the district court. He was also held during initial hearings on his most recent charges of violating a Civil Protective Order (CPO), simple assault and attempted threats to do bodily harm on May 2.

Judge Joseph Beshouri set the release conditions for his two domestic violence cases, so the defendant would be ready for release after the federal matter is resolved.

The defendant will remain detained in the federal matter until further notice.

Judge Beshouri ordered that, when the federal matter is resolved, the defendant will return to court to be released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). He said that the defendant will be immediately released into a 21-day, 24-hour home confinement, and will then be placed on GPS monitoring to be supervised by the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA.)

Judge Beshouri said he does not have confidence in the defendant being released directly into the community with only a stay away order., citing the defendant’s failure to comply with previous stay away orders on three different occasions.

He also said the defendant stalked the victim in this case, which gave the victim a severe case of anxiety.

Judge Beshouri required the defendant to stay away from the victim’s home, place of work and vehicle. He must also stay away from the location of the crime scene.

The prosecution did not object to the defendant’s release, especially since he would only be released at the end of his current hold.

The defendant was persistent in denying his charges, and said that he thinks the federal matter was transferred to Maryland where his wife now lives. He also mentioned having sleeping problems in DC Jail due to a respiratory condition.

Judge Continues Hearing to Finalize Plea Agreement

A DC Superior Court judge continued a domestic violence defendant’s hearing at the request of the defense and the prosecution.

The defendant was brought before the court in two domestic violence cases on July 16. He is charged with simple assault in one case and unlawful entry and destruction of property in the other.

Both parties wanted to continue the hearing because they reached a plea agreement, but have not yet completed paperwork through the Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF,) where the defendant is being held. The defense also wanted to update the defendant on his case before he submitted his plea.

Judge John McCabe granted the parties’ request. He continued the hearing to July 21 when the defendant is expected to accept the plea agreement.

Judge Orders Defense Attorney to Draft Plan for Defendant’s Release

On July 17, a DC Superior Court judge ordered a defense attorney to draft a plan to ensure a defendant is safely released.

O’Donna Daniels is charged with arson for allegedly attempting to set a house and car on fire on the 3100 block of 35th Street, NE on Dec. 31, 2019.

Defense attorney Rachel Cicurel said her client is “doing extremely well at St Elizabeths, on mental health medication and very interested in improving her mental health.”

A hospital worker said she has been stable for at least a month.

Judge Michael Ryan said he would release Daniels as long as her and the community’s safety can be ensured.

“We’re in the midst of a pandemic, it’s a weekend and it’s a shelter, bad things could happen to her,” he said.

Judge Ryan also said he would like the defense to try and find her a place to live that is not just a shelter. Cicurel said she is waiting for a female spot to become available at the Community Residence Facilities (CRF.)

Daniels is scheduled to return to court on July 22 to re-discuss her release. In the meantime, she will remain at St. Elizabeths.

Suspect Wanted in 11-Year-Old’s Murder Receives Bench Warrant for Firearms Case

A judge issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a defendant who is also wanted for the murder of an 11-year-old boy in Southeast, DC on July 4.

Carlo General, who is also known as Carlos Tyrone General, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition in a 2019 case.

DC Superior Court Judge Gerald Fisher issued the bench warrant for General because he failed to show up to his July 15 pretrial show cause hearing for the firearms charges.

A notice of noncompliance was filed on July 10.

Another notice of noncompliance was filed on March 12.

According to DC Courts, the defendant was released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) on March 3 under new pretrial release conditions. The defendant resided at a halfway house in DC from Feb. 28, 2019, until March of 2019.

The Commonwealth of Virginia held General in jail for multiple cases in 2019 until March of 2020. Case records show that General pleaded guilty to assault, statutory burglary and eluding a police officer in Prince William County, Va. A probation violation was filed for him on June 8.

The defendant also has an arrest warrant for the first-degree murder while armed for his alleged connection to the shooting of 11-year-old Davon McNeal. He is one of four suspects in McNeal’s death.

Police have apprehended 22-year-old Christian Wingfield and 18-year-old Daryle Bond in connection to the murder.

Judge Fisher also issued a bench warrant for Brandon Devaughn, who is charged with robbery and second-degree burglary, for allegedly robbing a store with two other people on Feb. 22, 2019, on the 3900 block of Benning Road, NE.

Devaughn was scheduled to appear in court to address instances of noncompliance with the conditions of his pretrial release.

Multiple bench warrants have been filed for the defendant’s arrest throughout the course of the case.

Devaughn’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28.

Judge Does Not Change Noncompliant Defendant’s Probation Conditions

On July 15, a DC Superior Court judge did not change a defendant’s conditions of probation despite reports of noncompliance.

The defendant pleaded guilty to attempted threats to do bodily harm, simple assault and contempt on June 9. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, which were suspended, and 18 months of probation.

Judge John McCabe decided to keep the conditions despite the fact that he said he did not find the defense’s story convincing.

The defendant violated curfew every night from July 9 to 14. He also tampered with his GPS monitoring device multiple times.

The prosecution said the defendant violated a stay away order by going to the victim’s house and taking their son on July 4. When the victim tried to get her child back, he allegedly attacked her.

Defense attorney Kiumars Hakimzadeh said the defendant was not at the house at this time. He said a doctor removed the defendant’s GPS on July 26 and the defendant placed it in his car that his mom was driving at the time of the offense.

Hakimzadeh said the victim also reported not seeing the defendant at this time, which runs contrary to the prosecutor’s statement.

“She does everything a victim should do,” said the prosecutor. “She feels the justice system has failed her.”

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 5.

Judge Declares Defendant Isn’t Competent to Stand Trial

A DC Superior Court judge found a sexual abuse defendant incompetent to stand trial on July 16.

Leroy McGill allegedly sexually assaulted a victim on March 28. The crime was reported, by the victim, at the Eastern Market metro station on the 700 block of Pennsylvania Ave, SE. McGill is charged with a misdemeanor offense for sexual abuse and simple assault.

The preliminary competency exam was ordered on June 23. Since the psychiatrist deemed McGill not competent to stand trial, he was sent to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, for mental health treatment.

“She said I could sit next to her and touch her,” the defendant told the arresting officer on the day of the crime.

The defendant allegedly touched and grabbed the victim’s thigh at some point between the Stadium-Armory and Potomac Avenue metro stations, according to court documents.

McGill’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14.

Judge Changes Defendant’s Stay Away Conditions

A DC Superior Court judge changed a defendant’s stay away order at the victim’s request.

The defendant is charged with simple assault in a domestic violence case. He was released awaiting trial on the condition that he stay away from his wife’s address. However, he has since been residing at her home with her permission.

Judge John McCabe amended the stay away order July 15 to allow normal day-to-day contact between the two. However, if the defendant harasses, assaults, threatens or stalks his wife, he may be charged with contempt of court.

Judge McCabe also took him off GPS monitoring.

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29.

Document: Police Arrest 3 Suspects for Shooting

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested three men after a victim was shot on July 13.

The suspects, who are all men in their 30s, were apprehended as they tried to flee the scene.

Officers recovered two firearms.

According to a press release, officers located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds on the 4000 block of 8^th Street, SE. The victim was transported to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6990173-7-15-20-Arrests-Made-in-an-Assault-With-a.html” responsive=true]

Document: Police Arrest Man for Assault

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department apprehended a suspect July 14 for assaulting a vehicle with a gun.

The incident occurred on the 2000 block of Bladensburg Road, NE on July 10.

According to court documents, the suspect and the victim were involved in a verbal altercation when the suspect allegedly struck the victim with a handgun.

The suspect is awaiting his initial hearing at DC Superior Court.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6990166-7-15-20-Arrest-Made-in-an-Assault-With-a.html” responsive=true]

Judge Orders Defendant to Wear GPS Monitor

A DC Superior Court judge ordered a defendant to reinstall his GPS monitor on July 15.

The defendant is charged with threats to do bodily harm and a bail violation. He was released on his promise to return to court for his next hearing, but has since been required to wear a GPS tracking device due to issues complying with his pretrial release conditions.

Police removed his GPS monitor on June 13. He was supposed to get a new one but has not yet.

Judge John McCabe said the defendant would likely go to jail if he does not comply with GPS monitoring.

A hearing is scheduled for July 29 to ensure the GPS was installed.

Crime Alerts: July 15-16

Between 9 p.m. on July 15 and 9 a.m. on July 16, the Metropolitan Police Department sent out one crime alert.

The alert was sent at 3:12 a.m. for a shooting on the 5400 block of Bass Place, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect.

If you know anything about this incident, please call 911.

Search