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Judge Gives Homeless Defendant 2nd Chance to Get to Hearing

On July 22, DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a hearing to July 29 to give a defendant another chance to appear in court. 

The defendant pleaded guilty to simple assault and assault on a police officer on Dec. 9. He was sentenced to 120 days in jail, all of which were suspended, plus one year of probation.

The defendant has not reported to the Court Services Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) since his last hearing on June 11.

The prosecution asked Judge Maribeth Raffinan to issue a bench warrant for his arrest, citing the defendant’s failure to appear to court and concerns of his safety in the neighborhood where the assault occurred. 

Defense attorney David Akulian opposed the bench warrant request.

“This is really someone who needs to get mental health services and not someone who needs to be incarcerated,” he said.

 Judge Raffinan reserved the right to issue a bench warrant if he does not appear to the next hearing. 

Judge Cancels Defendant’s Bench Warrant

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan canceled a bench warrant for a defendant who voluntarily returned to court on July 22.

The defendant is charged with simple assault and attempted threats to do bodily harm in a domestic violence case.

He was released on Feb. 11 on his promise to return to court. However, he did not appear for his Feb. 25 hearing, and a bench warrant was issued the next day. 

The defendant was reminded that he must check in with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) as a condition of his release. 

His next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3. 

Judge Schedules Another Hearing for Domestic Violence Defendant

A defendant facing a third-degree felony domestic violence charge is scheduled for a disposition on Aug. 5.

The defendant is alleged of committing assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm on a family member.

The defendant is being held at DC Jail without bail.

Defendant Needs to Comply with Referral, Judge Says

On July 22, a DC Superior Court judge ordered a defendant to comply with the Pretrial Services Agency’s (PSA) mental health referral. 

Buda Mulla is charged with kidnapping for allegedly trying to run off with a toddler on July 8. He was released the next day and placed on a GPS tracking device.

The day after his release, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Mulla having what appeared to be a mental health episode on a street corner in Washington, DC, according to court documents.  

Mulla received a notice of non compliance on July 20 for failure to report with the PSA. However, a PSA representative said the defendant has been compliant since then.

Defense attorney Bernadette Armand said he was unable to comply with the release conditions until his release on July 16. 

Mulla is accused of grabbing a three-year-old child and running away until the parents tackled him on the 200 block of 15th Street, NW.

When a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer asked Mulla why he grabbed the child, he said, “I wanted to pull the kids into the kingdom of Heaven.”

Judge Danya Dayson scheduled a hearing for Aug. 14 to assess Mulla’s compliance with pretrial release conditions.

Judge Keeps Noncompliant Defendant’s Release Conditions

On July 22, a DC Superior Court judge decided that she wasn’t going to change a defendant’s pretrial release conditions despite several instances of noncompliance. 

Rashad Johnson is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle.

A Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative said that Johnson, 20, failed to comply with his conditions of release by not reporting weekly by phone or confirming his address. 

Defense attorney Stephanie Johnson said her client does not have a phone. She said he was also unaware of the conditions since his mom maintains his paperwork and put the release order away. She said he now understands his release conditions.

Judge Danya Dayson said Johnson will be sent to jail if he does not get into compliance. 

On April 21, the defendant allegedly broke a chain and lock and stole a motorcycle from the 1100 block of 4th Street, SE. When confronted by the victim, Johnson got off the vehicle and drove away on a different stolen motorcycle. He also committed multiple traffic violations to avoid a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer. 

The defendant eventually got off the motorcycle, tried to run away by foot and was apprehended by the officer. 

Johnson’s next court date is scheduled for Oct. 7. 

Defendant’s Renewed Request for COVID-19 Release Denied

On July 22, a DC Superior Court Judge denied a defendant’s second request to be released from DC Jail due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tony Arrington is charged with second-degree burglary for allegedly entering a business on the 700 block of Kennedy Street, NW and stealing around $1,680 on Feb. 19. He has been held in DC Jail since Feb. 21.

Arrington, 50, has from a number of underlying health concerns that could make him more vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus. He requested to be released from DC Jail because of health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic before.

A judge also denied his request in April.

The second motion for release was filed in June.

Defense attorney Sara Kopecki said her client’s underlying health conditions have made him “genuinely fearful” of contracting the coronavirus. She also said this stress has exacerbated his underlying medical conditions, and he is now receiving steroidal treatment. 

Kopecki said Arrington could stay with his cousin in Capitol Heights, Md. and would willingly to wear a GPS monitoring device and comply with home confinement.

Judge Erik Christian said he found the motion was no different from the motion that was denied in April.

The judge said Arrington has received appropriate treatment from DC Jail for his medical issues and, while Arrington’s block-mates have been previously treated for the virus, there are currently no cases of the coronavirus within the facility.

Arrington, who has a criminal history, including a pending burglary charge in Maryland and noncompliance with release conditions in the past, still poses a danger to the community and is a flight risk, Judge Christian said. 

According to Keena Blackmon, director of strategic communications and public information officer for the DC Jail, there have been no new COVID-19 cases at Department of Correction’s facilities since early June.

Blackmon said the jail has only identified one new inmate who tested positive during the jail’s intake process. The process includes a 14-day quarantine for medical observation for every new inmate. It was instituted as part of the DC Jail’s COVID-19 protocols.

Arrington is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 28.

Judge Holds Defendant for Firearm Possession

On July 22, a DC Superior Court judge granted the prosecution’s request to hold a defendant.

Shawn Tolbert, also known as Shawn Tobart, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction after an officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) conducted a search of his apartment on May 12 and found a shotgun and a handgun.

That morning, the MPD responded to a report of shots fired near a residence in the 3600 block of 6th Street, SE. When they arrived at the scene, they found multiple shell casings, according to court documents.

Officers said the suspect sat at the back door of the building and fired the shotgun into the ground.

The MPD requested a search warrant after knocking on Tolbert’s door and seeing guns directly inside of his apartment. While those guns ended up being BB guns, the MPD found a shotgun and a handgun in his apartment. 

At the time of his arrest, Tolbert was on probation for second-degree assault and illegal possession of a firearm in Maryland. He was placed on GPS monitoring after the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from reporting to his probation officer in person.

When he was arrested, the GPS monitor was found cut off in his apartment.

Tolbert said he was under the impression that he only had to wear the monitor for a certain period of time.

Daniel Kolver, Tolbert’s attorney, requested that his client be released under home confinement with allowances to leave for work and physical therapy. Kolver said the MPD’s search of Tolbert’s apartment was “plainly illegal” and the weapons could have been owned by Tolbert’s wife.

However, Judge Renee Raymond sided with the prosecution, granting the request to hold the defendant.

She said she did not find the defendant’s GPS argument compelling, and she was especially concerned that shots were fired at two different times during early morning hours on the day of the incident.

Parties are scheduled to return to court on Aug. 3 to discuss the status of the case.

Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear

A DC Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for a defendant who failed to appear in court for his July 22 hearing.

Alonte Hines pleaded guilty to robbery on Jan. 23. Hines, 19, has been under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) while awaiting sentencing since May 17, 2019. 

A Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative said the defendant has been a loss of contact since July 5, when the battery on his GPS monitor died.

Defense attorney Russell Hairston opposed the bench warrant, saying his client may not have known about the hearing. Hairston’s attempt to contact his client was unsuccessful. 

Judge Danya Dayson said the defendant would have known about the hearing if he was keeping in compliance with his release condition. 

On May 15, 2019, three adult men dragged a victim into a building on the 5000 block of D Street, SE. 

One of the suspects pointed a handgun at the victim while another went through the victim’s pockets and took his iPhone, Galaxy Note, keys and wallet. The group then took the victim’s vehicle and drove away, according to court documents.

Defendant Isn’t Competent to Stand Trial

A DC Superior Court judge found a defendant facing simple assault and possession of a dangerous weapon charges incompetent to stand trial.

Deborah Pipkin is charged with simple assault for allegedly striking a victim with a walking cane on July 7 on the 1300 block of U Street, NW.

The preliminary competency exam was ordered on June 11. During the July 22 hearing, Judge Ronna Beck agreed to transfer Pipkin to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, where she will receive mental health treatment in an effort to restore her competency.

A hearing to evaluate her progress is scheduled for Aug. 26.

Judge Removes GPS Tracking from Defendant’s Release Conditions

On July 22, a DC Superior Court judge allowed a defendant to be taken off  GPS monitoring while on pretrial release.

The defendant is charged with second-degree child sex abuse. 

Judge Danya Dayson cited the defendant’s compliance thus far and lack of a criminal record when making her decision.

Defense attorney Solange Hilfinger-Pardo asked for her client’s GPS monitor to be removed because he wants to get another job and was told the ankle monitor will make obtaining employment difficult. 

The prosecution expressed concern that the defendant would not comply with his stay away order from the victim and her mother if the tracking device was removed. 

Hilfinger-Pardo said the defendant has been fully compliant with his pretrial release conditions. He calls in weekly with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) and immediately got his GPS fixed when there was an issue with its battery.

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 25. 

Document: Police Arrest Suspect for Shooting on H Street, SE

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a suspect who is believed to be involved in a shooting on the 5000 block of H Street, SE.

According to a press release, officers found three victims suffering from gunshot wounds on May 2. The victims were transported to a local hospital where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The 26-year-old suspect was arrested on an assault with a dangerous weapon charge.

The case is still under investigation.

Anyone who has knowledge of the incident should call police at (202) 727-9099 or text Department’s TEXT TIP LINE — 50411. The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a crime committed in the District of Columbia.

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Judge Continues Hearing

A DC Superior Court judge continued a preliminary hearing for two defendants charged with armed carjacking and robbery while armed with a firearm.

On May 9, Keon Smith and Ja’cori Williams allegedly stole a dog and asked its owner to pay them $500 before they could return the dog. When the owner only provided $200, the two defendants pointed a gun at him and took his black Chevy Malibu. Surveillance footage showed them abandoning the vehicle at the intersection of Gainesville Street and Elvans Road, SE while being pursued by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers.

Defense attorney Leo Alley said the victim was giving conflicting statements to the MPD.

Alley screened body camera footage showing an officer accusing the victim of lying about the time of day he initially reached out to the MPD about his dog being taken. The officer was heard saying “that’s a lie” to the complainant throughout the clip.

Alley also said the detective, who the prosecution called upon to testify, said he could not confirm Williams was among the two suspects involved in the case. Footage of the detective interviewing the victim did not show him and the victim mentioning a person that fit Williams’ description.

The detective said he could not identify Williams from a surveillance video that allegedly showed the two men abandoning the complainant’s vehicle. The detective said the video was too blurry.

A judge, who was presiding over the case on behalf of Judge Erik Christian, asked the defense to save their arguments for the next day.

The hearing is scheduled to continue on July 23.

Document: Homicide in Petworth

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a homicide in the Petworth neighborhood in Northwest, DC.

According to a press release, officers found 30 year-old Nurudeen Thomas, a resident of Greenbelt, Md., suffering from a gunshot wound on the 4100 block of 14th Street, NW. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of this case or any other homicide in Washington, DC. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-797-9099. Anonymous information can also be sent to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.

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Crime Alerts: July 21

The Metropolitan Police Department sent out four crime alerts on July 21.

The most recent crime alert was sent at 9:55 p.m. for a robbery with a gun crime on the 1300 block of Kenyon Street, NW. Police are looking for two black male juveniles driving a silver Dodge avenger with DC tags.

Another alert was sent at 8:36 p.m. for an armed carjacking that occurred at 8:01 p.m. on the 7400 block of 7th Street, NW. Police are looking for a black male wearing a white tank top with black pants. The suspect is also wearing a black mask and is armed with a gun. He was last seen driving a black in color Ford F150 bearing MD Tags — 6EA5101. 

Six minutes before an alert was sent for a shooting on the 200 block of N Street, SW. Police are looking for two black males. The first suspect is wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans. The second suspect has dreadlocks and is wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. 

At 3:38 p.m. police alerted the public of a stabbing on the 1400 block of W Street, NW. Police do not have a description of the suspect.  

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