Judge Finds Probable Cause in Assault Case, Holds Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that an assault case has enough evidence to go to trial and held the defendant at DC Jail.

Alphonso Johnson is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly shooting a victim on Feb 16 between the 3400 and 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE. He has been detained since March.

Judge Sherry Trafford ruled that the case has probable cause.

The prosecutor extended a plea deal to Johnson. However, defense attorney Azhar Khan formally redetected it on his client’s behalf.

According to court documents, the victim was meeting up with a subject referenced as “B” to buy a large quantity of marijuana.

Two men allegedly pulled guns on the victim when they got into the victim’s car. The victim told police that he began to fight with the men when one began shooting.

The victim jumped out of the car as it was moving. He sustained injuries including multiple fractures, a gunshot wound to the left thigh, abrasions on the right leg and buttocks, a laceration on the top of the head that needed staples, a gunshot to the right inner arm and chest area, lacerations to the right inner arm and chest area, a partial dislocation of the hip, according to court documents.

Surveillance footage shows a car driving onto the opposite lane of traffic and then onto a sidewalk. Two officers walk towards the incident as a man appears in the frame running away from the scene.

The detective said that one of the officers recognized that man as Johnson.

The detective said shell casings from the vehicle matched the handgun recovered from the defendant’s possession. The detective also confirmed that one of the three phones found in the vehicle had Johnson’s fingerprints on them.

The defense questioned the detective about the suspect known as “B,” but the detective said he never identified anyone by that name.

According to the detective’s testimony, the handgun wasn’t recovered from Johnson when he was arrested, but rather, around a week later. The defense also pointed out that other cell phones were found in the car.

Khan asked Judge Trafford to release Johnson with heightened supervision and GPS monitoring. He said his client is willing to comply with all release conditions the court may impose.

But, the prosecution objected to the release request, citing Johnson’s previous firearms charges, multiple bench warrants and a history of failing to appear in court.

Johnson’s next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27.

Defendant Does Not Show Up to Sentencing Review

A DC Superior Court judge gave a defense attorney two months to re-establish contact with his client after he did not show up to his Aug. 28 sentencing review to decide on whether to amend his sentence.

Marcus Mathes was sentenced to 15 days, all of which were suspended, plus one year of probation for second-degree theft in April of 2019. His sentence was passed under the guidelines of the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA.)

Defense attorney Daniel Kovler said he last made contact with the defendant in mid-June. Since then, Kovler has made numerous unsuccessful attempts to reach out to his client.

Kovler also told the judge that Mathes has not picked up any charges in the meantime.

The prosecution said they are not opposed to giving Mathes more time to reach out, but would like the victim’s restitution to be paid.

Judge Craig Iscoe scheduled another hearing for Oct. 28. At that time, parties will discuss sealing the case under the guidelines of the YRA and proof of restitution.

Mathes was originally charged with robbery, second-degree theft and simple assault for allegedly punching a woman in the face and taking her property on Feb. 3, 2019. As part of a plea agreement with the prosecution, his robbery and simple assault charges were dropped.

2019 CMD 001821

Plea Deal in Domestic Violence Case Falls Apart

A DC Superior Court judge continued a domestic violence case after a plea deal fell through.

The 21-year-old defendant is charged with simple assault, attempted threats and obstruction.

The defense was going to enter a plea deal with the prosecution during the Aug. 28 hearing. However, the defendant did not agree with the prosecution’s description of the crime.

Judge John McCabe agreed to schedule a new hearing on Nov. 15 to discuss how to move forward with the case.

The original agreement was that the defendant would plead guilty to obstruction of justice and attempted threats. In exchange, the prosecution would drop the simple assault charge.

According to the prosecution’s initial description of the events, the defendant threatened to kill the victim with a knife during an argument on May 28. When the victim tried to call 911, the defendant allegedly took the phone from her and threw it across the room.

The defendant did not agree with this depiction. After a phone call with his attorney, parties reached a new agreement in which the defendant would plead guilty to simple assault and attempted threats in exchange for the obstruction charge being dropped.

The prosecution amended their description of the events to reflect that the defendant was arguing with the victim and threatened her with a knife, not mentioning the 911 call. However, the defendant did not agree to this either.

Defense attorney Corrine Schultz said her client was having trouble with his recollection of the events. She said that the defendant has a mental health appointment soon, and that once he is back on his medication for a while, his thinking will likely be more clear so that he can come to a decision about his case.

In the meantime, the defendant will remain released on his promise to return to court. He must also comply with a stay away order.

2 of 3 Defendants Resolve Drug Charges

Two of three co-defendants resolved cases they picked up after being arrested in a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) buy-bust operation.

Rico Carter, Dardinella Hatcher and Kenneth O’Neal were originally charged with manufacturing or possessing with intent to manufacture a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance. They were arrested on June 2, 2019, in the aftermath of the operation, which took place on the 1200 block of Simms Place, NE.

Carter pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of possessing a controlled substance. Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced him to time served.

Hatcher’s charges were also downgraded to possession. In her deal with the prosecution, Hatcher was given 30 days of probation without having to plead guilty.

O’Neal was also planning to take a plea. However, during the Aug. 28 hearing, he found out that he has an outstanding arrest warrant for second-degree theft. Judge Brandt continued his hearing to Sept. 11 so he could take care of it.

During the undercover operation, an undercover officer approached Carter and asked him if he could help them obtain Heroin, according to court documents. Carter then allegedly walked a short distance to meet with O’Neal and Hatcher in order to acquire the Heroin. He then sold it to the undercover officer.

Hatcher and Carter must pay $50 to the Victims of Violent Crime fund.

Document: Police Arrest Suspect in Traffic Fatality

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a traffic fatality that occurred during the early morning hours on Aug. 28.

According to a press release, a person was on a motorized scooter headed down Constitution Avenue as a Ford F-150 truck was traveling down 11th Street, NW, a one-way street, in the wrong direction.

The vehicles collided at the intersection of Constitution Avenue, NE and 11th Street, NE. The release the scooter it the passenger side of the truck.

The victim operating the scooter, whose identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification, died on the scene.

The driver of the truck, 52-year-old Tyrone Maurice Hector, a resident of Capital Heights, Md., was arrested for second-degree murder.

Anyone with knowledge of this incident should call police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE — to 50411.

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Judge Cannot Concur with Murder Defendant’s Incompetency Finding

A DC Superior Court judge did not agree with a doctor’s finding that a murder defendant is not competetent to stand trial.

Alisa Randall is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 59-year-old Ronald Jones Payne to death on July 15 on the 1300 block of Euclid Street, NW.

Randall, 32, has been held at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, since Aug. 23, 2019. In her most recent observation, a doctor found her incompetent to stand trial.

During the Aug. 27 hearing, the prosecution argued that the 31-year-old has shown progress in her health and cognition. Upon review of her medical records, the prosecution said that Randall’s psychosis seems to be subsiding and she has recently demonstrated the ability to understand more complex concepts.

Ashley Guzman, Randall’s defense attorney, disagreed with the prosecution, saying the doctor’s most recent findings were accurate.

Judge Neal Kravitz ruled that the court can not concur with the doctor’s finding at this time. He ordered an updated doctor’s report, due by Oct. 8, and scheduled another mental observation hearing to take place on that date.

D.C. Witness reported that Randall told the police that Jones attacked her. She also said Jones sexually assaulted her daughter.

Judge Reschedules Hearing for Defendant Charged with PCP Possession

A DC Superior Court Judge has scheduled a discharged an Aug. 27 pretrial show cause hearing and scheduled a status hearing for a defendant charged with unlawful possession of liquid PCP.

According to court documents, Clifton Cheadle, 50, wandered onto a civilian’s property on the 1300 block of Potomac Ave, SE. The homeowner called the police. According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found a vial of PCP on him.

Judge Michael O’Keefe scheduled the status hearing for Oct. 19.

Document: Fatal Shooting in Benning Ridge Neighborhood

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a shooting that took place on the 800 block of Ridge Road, SE.

According to a press release, officers found 23-year-old Byron Bright suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

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

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Crime Alerts: August 27-28

Between 9 p.m. on Aug. 27 and 9 a.m. on Aug. 28, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts.

The most recent alert was at 10:51 p.m. for a shooting on the 800 block of Ridge Road, SE.

The second alert was sent at 10:20 p.m. for a stabbing on the 1600 block of New York Avenue, NE.

Police do not have a description of the suspects from these incidents. If anyone has information about these events, please call 911.

Document: Waldorf Resident Killed in Deanwood

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the Deanwood neighborhood on Aug. 26.

Just before 8:30 p.m. police found 49 year-old Kim Maurice Cooke, a resident of Waldorf, Md., suffering from a gunshot wound. He died on the scene.

The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the 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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Crime Alerts: August 27

The Metropolitan police Department sent out a crime alert at 4:18 p.m. for a shooting on the 2300 block of V Street, NE.

No other information has been provided.

If anyone knows about this incident, please call 911.

Judge Schedules Status Hearing in Assault Case

On Aug. 27, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a felony status hearing for two assault defendants.

Bernard Speight is charged with assault with intent to commit robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly stabbing a victim on the 4900 block of Georgia Avenue, NW on July 23. The victim was left with two large lacerations on the stomach region.

Speight’s co-defendant, Darryl Williams, is charged with assault with intent to commit armed robbery in connection with the incident.

Williams, 53, is on pretrial release. His attorney was not present at the Aug. 27 hearing. Speight, 34, is being held at the DC Jail without bail.

Speight’s defense attorney, Stephen LoGerfo, requested another status hearing to ensure that Williams and his attorney, Antiq Ahmed, can be present for scheduling the case’s preliminary hearing.

Judge Julie Becker scheduled a status hearing for Sept. 28.

Judge Schedules Hearing For Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a preliminary hearing to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.

David Robinson is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the death of Tia Cokley. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Cokley, 40, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on July 25 on the 1900 block of 16th Street, SE. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police arrested Robinson, 39, the same day.

“The defendant stated that it was messed up that he killed the decedent and that he did not mean to do so,” according to the documents.

Judge Julie Becker scheduled Robinson’s preliminary hearing for Oct. 13 at the defense’s request.

The defendant, who is pending a grand jury, was not required to be at the court hearing.

Judge Schedules Preliminary Hearing for Sex Abuse Case

On Aug. 27, DC Superior Court Judge Julie Becker scheduled a hearing to determine if a sexual abuse case has enough evidence to go to trial.

The defendant is charged with first-degree sex abuse for allegedly entering the victim’s home in Northeast, DC while she was asleep and penetrating her with his fingers.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 9.

Document: Police Arrest Suspect for Assault with A Dangerous Weapon

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) made an arrest for assault with a dangerous weapon.

At approximately 1:55 p.m., the suspect entered an establishment on the 1100 block of New York Ave, NW. The suspect allegedly brandished a knife and threatened the victim. No injuries were reported.

The suspect, a 41-year-old resident of Southeast, DC, was apprehended by responding officers.

The suspect is charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm and possession of a prohibited weapon.

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet Mckenna released the suspect with a pretrial stay away order. The suspect is scheduled for a hearing on Jan. 25, 2021.

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