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Judge Cancels Bench Warrant

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe canceled a bench warrant for a defendant’s arrest on July 9 because he was detained at another jail when he failed to show up to his court date.

Anton Abney pleaded guilty to simple assault on Oct. 26, 2017. He was sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation.

Abney failed to report to the hearing that was scheduled after he violated the conditions of his probation, prompting the bench warrant to be issued.

Defense attorney Thomas Healy said his client did not show up because he was detained at the Montgomery County Detention Center in Clarksburg, Md., where he was serving a sentence for underage possession of a regulated firearm.

Defendant Doesn’t Have to Serve Jail Time for Assault and Property Charges

A defendant pleaded guilty to assault and destruction of property on July 9, receiving a 90-day suspended sentence.

The defendant, who was convicted in a domestic violence case, admitted to punching his ex-boyfriend in the face, breaking into his house and smashing a microwave oven and refrigerator.

The defendant has to serve 12 months on probation for the crimes. During probation he is required to undergo drug and alcohol testing and a mental health assessment.

The prosecution also asked that Russell be ordered to stay away from a store that was part of another case.

Judge Maribeth Raffinan did not grant the request since that case is now closed, but she did issue a stay away order from the victim.

Judge Continues Hearing for Defendant to Review and Sign Plea Deal

A DC Superior Court judge continued a defendant’s hearing on July 9 in order to give his  attorney more time to review a plea offer with the defendant and get it signed. 

Olonzie Coney was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon on March 2. He was released awaiting trial in April.

Coney’s attorney, Lucas Dansie, requested that Coney plead guilty to both charges on July 9. However, Dansie did not provide Judge Julie Becker with a signed copy of the plea agreement.

Dansie requested that Judge Becker place the defendant’s signature on the agreement via verbal confirmation, but Judge Becker said she was uncomfortable doing so.

Judge Becker continued the hearing in order for Dansie to go over the terms of the agreement and get Coney’s signature. 

According to court documents, Coney was arrested for second-degree theft on May 8 following his release for the weapons charge. He allegedly robbed an establishment on the 700 block of 14 Street, NW. He is currently being held on a cash bond. 

Both of Coney’s cases were continued until July 15, when he is expected to plead guilty.

Judge Revokes Homeless Defendant’s Bench Warrant

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe revoked a defendant’s bench warrant for failure to appear in court on July 8.

Aubrey Mays was charged with possession of a controlled substance on May 10, 2018. He failed to appear to his non-jury trial on Dec. 11, 2019. 

Mays said he came to court July 8 to resolve the bench warrant in an effort to pursue sobriety. Christ House, an organization dedicated to helping homeless men, provided the defendant with medical care and substance abuse treatment. 

The defendant must contact the Pretrial Services Agency once a week.

Mays’ next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8.

Crime Alerts: July 8-9

Between 8 p.m. on July 8 and 8 a.m. on July 9, the Metropolitan Police Department sent out two crime alerts.

The most recent alert, sent at 10:23 p.m., was for a shooting on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE. Police are looking for a black vehicle associated with the shooting.

The second alert was sent at 9:57 p.m. for a stabbing on the 800 block of N Street, NW. Police do not have a description of the suspect at this time.

If you have any information about these events, please call 911.

Crime Alerts; July 8

The Metropolitan Police Department sent out four crime alerts after 11a.m. on July 8.

The most recent alert was sent at 9:57 p.m. for a stabbing on the 800 block of N Street, NW.

An alert was sent at 7:10p.m. for an armed carjacking investigation on the 1700 block of Lang Place, NE. Police are looking for two black males, aged 16-17 years old. One suspect is wearing a black shirt and black pants. The second suspect is wearing a dark blue shirt, and black pants. Both suspects are armed. 

At 4:39p.m. an alert for a shooting on the 4600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SW was sent out. Police are looking for two juvenile males in a silver vehicle. They were last seen fleeing the scene. 


At 11:07 a.m. police sent out a crime alert for a robbery with a gun on the 500 block of Randolph Street, NW. Police are looking for two black males, approximately 5’6” who are 25 years old, carrying black handguns. The suspects were last seen traveling eastbound down the alley in a black minivan. The model is not known.

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

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Carrying Pistol Without License, Placed on Probation

A defendant pleaded guilty July 8 to carrying a pistol without a license and unlawful possession of ammunition and a high-capacity feeding device.

Gregory Skinner pointed a handgun at a woman on June 28, 2019, after she confronted him for trying to steal tires on a vehicle parked on the 400 block of 18th Street, SE.

Skinner received a suspended sentence of 60 days in jail plus six months of probation. 

Judge Michael Ryan said that Skinner’s probation will be revoked unless he maintains or is actively seeking employment. 

Skinner will not be placed on GPS monitoring.

The defendant’s next court hearing is scheduled for

Judge Releases Defendant Charged With Unlawful Possession of Firearm

A DC Superior Court judge released a defendant charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

A representative from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) requested that Judge Judith Smith revoke Anthony Mason’s probation. 

The representative cited multiple instances of non compliance, including losing contact with his probation officer, violating a home confinement order and failing to charge his GPS tracking device.

Mason’s probation officer mentioned that the defendant has had an unpleasant relationship with his mental health counselor, saying he seldom answered the phone. “When he did he would either fall asleep or act loud and aggressive,” the officer said.

Defense attorney John Armstrong said his client has made progress despite difficulties in his life, saying that Mason did try to call his probation officer but was ignored.

He also suggested that Mason’s mental health counselor be replaced.

Judge Smith decided said the defendant has to put more effort into complying with his probation. She also said Mason has the right to replace his mental health provider, although it was not up to her to decide.

Mason’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26.

Defendant Required to Serve Probation Time for Sex Abuse

On July 8, a defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual abuse. A DC Superior Court judge sentenced him to nearly 6 months in prison.

Eric Metzker penetrated a woman with his finger while she was asleep on Jan. 1, 2018.

The incarceration time was suspended, but Metzker is required to serve three years on probation.

The prosecution requested that Metzker receive four years on probation for the crime. The prosecutor said one of the years needed to be supervised. He also asked that Metzker partake in an alcohol and sexual abuse education course.

Defense attorney Michael Salnick pushed back, saying that probation should not exceed three years because his client has no criminal history and has been law-abiding ever since his first court hearing.

In response to a letter from the victim claiming that Metzker was unrepentant because he only accepted the plea deal after two-and-a-half years.

Judge Neal Kravitz ordered that Metzker receive three years of probation, perform 100 hours of community service, and stay away from the victim. 

Metzker’s probation will remain supervised until he completes Reach, a counseling program for people involved in sexual abuse.

Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Assault Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe issued a bench warrant for a defendant who failed to appear for his July 8 hearing. 

Mark Harris was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon on Sept. 28. 

Harris, 33, allegedly put a gun to a woman’s face and said “I’ll kill you” after she tried to tell him that he could accidentally shoot someone. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers apprehended the defendant on the 1300 block of Half Street, SW.

A Pretrial Services Agency representative reported a loss of contact with Harris.

The representative said he believes Harris is not making himself available because he is aware of the warrant.

Judge Releases All 14 Defendants During Initial Hearings

On July 8, DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell released all 14 defendants during their initial hearings.

Of the 14 defendants brought before the judge, four had multiple charges. The prosecution also dismissed the charges in three additional cases that were originally scheduled to appear in court.

During the proceedings, one defendant was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon after allegedly attacking a maintenance worker with a knife on July 7. 

Judge Crowell released the defendant and imposed a stay-away order at the prosecution’s request. The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 7.

Another man was charged with simple assault, attempted threats and the possession of a prohibited weapon after allegedly attempting to stab a man in Malcolm X Meridian Park. According to the victim, the defendant was yelling anti-gay slurs at them during the incident. 

After getting a Spanish interpreter to translate, Judge Crowell released the defendant, imposing a stay-away order from the victim and the park.

Of the three additional defendants facing charges for simple assault, two were also charged with attempted possession of a prohibited weapon. One of the two was also charged with second-degree theft. All three defendants were released with stay-away orders in place. 

The final defendant facing assault charges is charged with assault with intent to commit third-degree sex abuse. The prosecutor requested that the defendant be held in DC Jail due to both the nature of the charge and because of an additional sex abuse charge from January of this year. Judge Crowell denied his request and imposed a stay-away order.

Judge Crowell warned the defendant that if he were to violate the conditions of his release, he would be “unlikely” to get out of jail the next time.

Another defendant was charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm for an incident that occurred in the early hours of July 8. 

The defendant’s attorney argued against there being probable cause for the charge because the only evidence came from a witness that the defendant had just met. According to court documents, a gun discharged from the third floor of an apartment building through the ceiling of the apartment below.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers investigated an apartment that belonged to the witness, who said that the defendant had accidentally discharged a gun he owned while cleaning it. 

The attorney said the defendant did not claim ownership of the firearm, and suggested that it may have instead been the witness’ gun.

However, Judge Crowell, said there was probable cause. The defendant is released until his next court date with requirements to report every week to pretrial services by phone. 

A defendant charged with resisting arrest was issued a stay-away order from the White House complex. During the offense in question, the defendant allegedly got into an altercation with a person shouting “four more years” on the 800 block of 16th Street, NW, an area recently named Black Lives Matter Plaza.

The stay-away order that was first requested by police for an arrest warrant. Upon learning of the order, the defendant protested that such an action is “unconstitutional.”

Judge Crowell told the defendant that he is free to request that a judge remove the stay-away at a later date. 

One defendant charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia was released with no conditions.

Another defendant faced similar charges for carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or place of business. Judge Crowell released him with a stay-away order from the 900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, NW and the 600 block of 4th Street, NW.

Two more defendants, one charged with threats to do bodily harm and the other with defacing public or private property, were released before their next hearings with no conditions. Both are scheduled to return to court on Oct. 7.

Preliminary Hearing Set for Murder Defendant

A defense attorney in a murder case requested July 8 that a preliminary hearing be scheduled to review evidence and determine if the case has probable cause.

Ch’Juan Robinson, 23, is charged with the first-degree murder of Louis Kingsbury, a 35-year-old resident of Southeast, DC. Kingsbury died on April 29 on the 200 block of New York Ave, NW.

DC Superior Court Judge Julie Becker granted this request. The hearing is scheduled to take place on Aug. 23.

Robinson is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 29. He is also pending a grand jury.

Judge Gives Defendant One More Time to Comply

A DC Superior Court judge allowed a defendant, who is on probation for different cases to remain released, saying she would give him another chance to comply with his release requirements.

Maurice Douglas pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for sex abuse. He was sentenced to 90 days, in which 75 days of that time was suspended. After finishing his sentence, he was released on 18 months of supervised probation. 

On Dec. 7, 2019, Douglas was charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm. He is currently released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).

Representatives from the Pretrial Services Agency and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) recommended that Douglas’ release be revoked. Both agencies cited a loss of contact in the past few months, along with 11 violations of Douglas’ stay away order from the place of the incident.

The PSA representative also said there are reports of multiple occasions in which Douglas failed to charge his GPS monitoring device. The representative said the agency did not know where Douglas was located during the times.

The prosecution also said Douglas accumulated new allegations of involvement in a child trafficking ring, although he is not facing charges at this time. The prosecution requested that, if allowed to remain released, Douglas be required to participate in sex offender treatment as well.

Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied the prosecution’s request, citing how the allegations have not resulted in new charges.

Sharon Weathers and Rebecca Bloch, Douglas’ defense counsel, said that their client has been unable to get in contact with his probation officer and his HISP officer because he is homeless.

They also said Douglas has violated the stay away order so many times because the boundaries of the order encompass his aunt’s house and a bus route he frequents.

Judge Raffnan admonished Douglas to come into compliance with the requirements of his probation and pretrial release. She cited his lengthy criminal record for being only 26-years-old and said he would be held at DC Jail if other requirements are violated.

Douglas is scheduled for a hearing on both matters on Sept. 2.

Judge Denies Defendant’s Release

A DC Superior Court judge denied July 8 a defense attorney’s request for his client’s release. 

Fate Collins was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon on May 13.

The prosecutor asked Judge Julie Becker to deny the request because the defendant has been threatening the victim and witnesses in the case through telephone and social media.

Judge Becker denied the release.

Collins is scheduled to appear back in court on Sept. 22.