Judge Reschedules Hearing for Four Co-Defendants

On Aug. 4, a DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a hearing to determine if a case with four co-defendants has enough evidence to go to trial.

Malcolm Gaskins, Hassan Thompson, James Robinson and Johnathan Brown were arrested on May 20. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a call earlier that day from a person who said there were three guns in a residence the defendants occupied on the 3400 block of 13th Place, SE. Police found multiple guns, bullets, magazines and drugs.

Gaskins, 28, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. Thompson, 31, and Brown, 30, are charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with prior convictions. Robinson, 25, is charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.

The defendants were supposed to have a hearing on Aug. 4 to review evidence gathered by the prosecution.

All four attorneys for the defendants asked if they could schedule the hearing to a new date.

Judge John Campbell granted the parties’ request. All four co-defendants are scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 24..

Firearms Defendant Misses Court Hearing, Judge Issues Bench Warrant

A DC Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a defendant who failed to appear in court.

David Stubbs is charged with carrying a pistol without a license for allegedly discarding a firearm on the 2900 Langston Place, SE while fleeing from a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer. According to court documents, the officer asked Stubbs to exit his vehicle for a search on June 3.

Stubbs, 29, did not show up to his Aug. 4 hearing, which was scheduled to address a noncompliance issue with the terms of his pretrial release.

A Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative said Stubbs has not been in touch with them since he was released in June.

Defense attorney Bruce Cooper said his client has an address that is different from the one he registered with the PSA.

Judge Gerald Fisher told Cooper to investigate if Stubbs lives at the new address.

Stubbs’ next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

Judge Schedules Show Cause Hearing for Defendant

On Aug. 4, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a show cause hearing for a defendant who is a loss of contact with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA.)

James Demyers II, 30, is charged with misdemeanor charges, including simple assault and attempted threats to do bodily harm, for allegedly punching one victim and threatening to injure another with a belt on the 500 block of Edgewood Street, NE on June 7. He is also charged with destruction of property less than $1,000 for allegedly breaking a toilet and light fixture while detained.

Demyer’s attorney, Richard Holliday, could not make any representations regarding his client’s noncompliance. He asked for a show cause hearing, during which a judge will reassess Demyer’s release.

Judge John Campbell granted the defense’s request. Demyers is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 20.

Demyers also had a bail violation at the time of his arrest for failing to appear in court on Dec. 18, 2019, for a destruction of property case, according to court documents.

Demyers was released into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) on June 2, so he could resolve a bench warrant in another state. However, the defendant never reported to PSA to enroll in HISP.

Judge Issues Bench Warrant

DC Superior Court Judge Gerald Fisher issued a bench warrant for a defendant’s arrest after he did not show up to his court hearing.

Kelonii Malloy, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance on Aug. 27, 2019. He was sentenced to 15 days, all of which were suspended, plus six months of supervised probation.

The Aug. 4 hearing was scheduled to address Malloy’s noncompliance with the terms of his probation.

Malloy’s probation officer said he has been a loss of contact and has visited his mother, from whom he was ordered to stay away.

The prosecution also said Malloy did not appear for a July 31 hearing related to an unlawful possession of a firearm case he picked up on May 16.

On July 11, 2019, Malloy threatened to shoot a woman whose boyfriend got into a verbal altercation with him on the 300 block of Delafield Place, NW. Upon his arrest, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found cocaine and opiates on him.

Malloy was initially charged with misdemeanor charges for attempted threats to do bodily harm, simple assault and possession of a controlled substance, but the first two charges were dismissed as part of his plea deal.

Judge Gives Attorney More Time to Discuss Plea with Client

On Aug. 4, a DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing to give a defense attorney more time to discuss a plea offer with his client.

Deswon Franklin, 24, is charged with simple assault and second-degree theft for allegedly punching a victim in the chest and then stealing the victim’s Apple Airpods on the 1000 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW on May 27. He also allegedly kicked officers while being arrested

Defense attorney Everald Thompson said the prosecution offered his client a plea deal, but he has not yet been able to contact Franklin about it. He said he followed DC Jail’s protocol for reaching out to clients, but was still unable to get in touch with him.

Thompson then asked to continue the hearing, saying he will keep trying to contact the defendant.

Judge John Campbell agreed, scheduling another hearing for Aug. 17.

Judge Continues to Hold Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge denied a defense attorney’s request to reconsider his client’s release on Aug. 3.

Alfonzo Alegria, 37, is charged with robbery for allegedly grabbing a woman’s purse out of her car through the passenger door on the 60 block of New York Avenue, NW on May 1. The victim chased the defendant, who allegedly then choked, struck and bit her.

Defense attorney Todd Baldwin said that GPS monitoring could ensure the community’s safety.

However, the prosecution opposed the release, citing the violent nature of the offense and the defendant’s extensive criminal history. The defendant was convicted of armed robbery in 2008 and multiple misdemeanors.

Judge John Campbell decided to continue Alegria’s detention, saying nothing has changed since May 1, when Judge Michael O’Keefe held the defendant.

“The safety of the community requires his continued detention,” said Judge Campbell.

Alegria’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 13.

Judge Schedules Preliminary Hearing

On Aug. 3, DC Superior Court Judge John Campbell scheduled a hearing for Aug. 17 to determine if a case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Tywan Thomas is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

Defense attorney Joseph Yarbough said the prosecution extended a plea offer. Yarbough has until Aug. 14 to respond to the offer.

On May 19, suspects shot at several people, including Thomas, on the 1100 block of Talbert Street, SE. The defendant allegedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it in the direction of the suspects as he fled the scene.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers apprehended Thomas on June 5 when they arrived at his house in Southeast, DC due to an outstanding warrant.

Officers observed the defendant allegedly throw a firearm out the door, into the backyard.

Crime Alerts: August 3-4

Between 9 p.m. on Aug. 3 and 9 a.m. on Aug. 4, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out five crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 2:14 a.m. for a confirmed stabbing on the 2700 block Douglas Street, SE. Police have made an arrest in the case.

An alert for a shooting was sent at 11:27 p.m. on the 600 block of Harvard Street, NW. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

An alert for an assault with intent to rob was sent at 10:43 p.m. on the 800 block of Q Street, SE. Police are looking for a Black male, 6’3″ with a medium to heavy build wearing all black clothing.

An alert for a stabbing was sent at 10:23 p.m. at the intersection of Bladensburg Road and Benning Road, NE. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

The final alert was sent at 9:27 p.m. for a stabbing that occurred at 8:52 p.m. on the 800 block of H Street, NE. Police are looking for a Black male, 6’0″ in height with a dark complexion, wearing blue jeans and a black ski mask. He was last seen at the intersection of 10th and K Streets, NE.

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

Judge Continues Hearing to Reassess Defendant’s Release

A DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing to reassess a defendant’s pretrial release after discovering that she is being held on other charges.

Jacqueline Kelly was brought to court on Aug. 3 in reference to one case in which she is charged with simple assault. Kelly allegedly initiated a fight with another woman on June 18 on 35th Street, SE. She was not present for the hearing.

Kelly, 56, is currently being held in DC Jail after being brought to court in her most recent case. She was charged in that case on July 20 with unlawful entry onto private property, assault on a police officer, destruction of property worth less than $1,000 and threats to do bodily harm.

Those proceedings had been scheduled to determine if Kelly had come into compliance with her pretrial release conditions, which include a stay away order and mental health treatment. Kelly has struggled to comply with those conditions in the past, and was compelled by Judge Gerald Fisher to come into compliance on July 13.

Claudine Harrison, Kelly’s attorney, asked Judge Fisher to release her client. However, Judge Fisher could not issue such an order, since Kelly is currently being held on new charges. Instead, he issued a nominal bond so she can get credit for time served.

In addition to her other two cases, Kelly is also charged with simple assault, destruction of property worth less than $1,000, attempted threats to do bodily harm and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon. The cases stretch as far back as June 6.

Kelly is scheduled to appear again in court on Aug. 25.

Judge Sentences Defendant to 2 Years of Probation

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to 14 months in jail, all of which was suspended, plus two years of unsupervised probation.

David Blake, who is also known as David Smith, pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of two business establishments on Jan. 10.

The prosecution requested that Blake, 53, receive 28 months in jail, citing the violent nature of the offenses and previous noncompliance with the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) during his pretrial release.

Defense attorney Rachel Cicurel recommended a suspended sentence of 14 months.

Cicurel said her client suffers from chronic pneumonia, as well as a number of other respiratory issues, and would be at a great risk in jail due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said Blake has been a heroin addict for three decades, and was in the midst of a very severe relapse at the time of the offenses.

Cicurel said her client was so under the influence during the offenses that he was not aware of what he was doing. She said he has no memory of the incident and was horrified by the video surveillance he saw.

“I’m sorry that I got myself caught up in all of this stuff,” said Blake.

Judge John Campbell adopted the defense’s sentencing request. He said there was no evidence that the defendant had taken part in drug activity during his pretrial release.

As conditions of his probation, Blake must stay away from the locations the incidents occurred. He must also receive drug testing and treatment as recommended by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA.)

Judge Campbell ordered the defendant to participate in mental health counseling and treatment programs.

Finally, he must pay $200 to the Victims of Violent Crimes Act fund.

“I believe you’ve been working hard on your situation for the last four months,” said Judge Campbell. “This is a break for you.”

Around 8:48 a.m., Blake entered a CVS pharmacy on the 300 block of 40th Street, NE and demanded money, telling the cashier “don’t make me have to shoot you,” according to court documents.

Within the next hour, the defendant robbed a restaurant on the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

Judge Continues Probation Hearing for Defendant

A defendant who was arrested twice while on probation had his show cause hearing continued to Aug. 17.

The defendant pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and contempt in 2017. He was sentenced to 60 months of incarceration, 30 of which were suspended, plus a total of five years of supervised probation.

The defendant was arrested on July 20 and charged with simple assault in a domestic violence case.

A hearing was scheduled for Aug. 3 to discuss what should happen to his probation. However, the defendant was arrested again on Aug. 1 and charged with simple assault. Both arrests involved the same victim.

The defendant is now being held at the DC Jail.

Neither the defendant nor Thompson were present for the Aug. 3 hearing.

Judge Gerald Fisher suggested that the date would allow the case’s judge, Judge Ronna Beck, to continue the hearing again in order to hold a hearing for all three cases at the same time.

Judge Finds Probable Cause for Burglary Defendant, Upholds Detention

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a burglary case has enough evidence to proceed to trial and continued to hold the defendant at the DC Jail.

Eric Butler, 23, is charged with first-degree burglary for allegedly assaulting his mother’s ex-boyfriend in his home and trying to take his property on May 26.

The prosecution called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who helped investigate Butler’s case to testify during the Aug. 3 preliminary hearing.

According to the witness, officers received a 911 call from a neighbor who saw a person wearing dark clothes enter the victim’s home by climbing through a second-floor window. When officers arrived on the scene, Butler answered the door and told them the house belonged to his uncle.

Inside the house, officers found the victim bleeding from his nose. At first, officers interviewed the two together, the victim said that Butler was allowed in the house and that the he was injured due to a fall.

The victim then received medical treatment, during which he was interviewed three more times. In these interviews, the victim contradicted his earlier statements, saying Butler had assaulted him while demanding money.

The prosecution argued for Judge Julie Becker to find probable cause, bringing up a car that was double-parked near the victim’s home during the incident. The defendant said the car was his mother’s and that the bottle of liquor found inside of it was his, which the prosecution argued tied the defendant to the car.

The prosecution also said that two televisions found on the floor near the back door were “suspiciously located,” and, when paired with the victim’s later interviews, indicated that the defendant was trying to steal from the home.

However, defense attorney Peter Cooper said there may be more to the story than the prosecution says. Cooper pointed to several lines of questioning that officers failed to pursue during their investigation.

According to the prosecution’s witness, two neighbors called 911 to report someone climbing into the victim’s window. However, during the cross-examination, the witness told Cooper that the first caller had not seen the person who entered the window. The second caller, who got a much better view of the suspect, was not asked to identify Butler as the perpetrator.

Cooper also emphasized the police’s failure to investigate the unclear details of the relationship between Butler’s mother and the victim.

Cooper said that whether or not the mother had property in the victim’s home, or whether or not the two were even still in contact, was unknown. He went on to say that these details remain important since it was unclear if the relationship ended on good terms.

Lastly, Cooper said the prosecution’s argument regarding the televisions did not hold up.

The witness had indicated, during his testimony, that the investigating officers had not asked the victim about the televisions. Cooper also said the back-door, which opened to an alleyway, would not be a logical place for his client to place the televisions if he wished to steal them with the car parked in front of the house.

Judge Julie Becker said that, while the prosecution’s arguments had holes, the defense’s did as well. She said the prosecution’s arguments about the car and the victim’s testimony tied to the defendant to the crime.

Cooper requested release under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP.) However, Judge Becker chose to continue holding Butler at the DC Jail, where he has been since May 27. She cited the defendant’s history of failing to appear in court and a second-degree assault case from Maryland, for which he is currently on supervision.

Butler is scheduled for a hearing on Sept. 2.

Judge Continues Hearing so Defendant Can Consider Plea Offer

On Aug. 3, DC Superior Court Judge John Campbell continued a hearing to Aug. 18 so the defendant could have time to consider a plea offer.

Dionte Monk, 26, is charged with robbery for snatching a phone from a man on the 1900 block of 8th Street, NW on June 4. The defendant allegedly fled the scene, but was ultimately apprehended by a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer.

Defense attorney Lee Smith requested the additional time so his client could review all evidence before making a decision.

Judge Allows Defendant Time to Consider Plea Offer

On Aug 3, DC Superior Court Judge John Campbell continued a hearing to Sept. 23 to allow the defendant more time to consider a plea offer.

Melessa Williams, who is also known as Tavesa Nitinia Rose-Moore, is charged with assault with the intent to kill while armed with a knife.

Defense attorney Anthony Matthews said, in order to consider the plea, his client must first review the evidence. He said it was not possible to confidentially do so in the Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF) until about a week ago.

On April 10, Williams allegedly stabbed a woman on the 400 block of M Street, SE.

The victim was found bleeding in numerous locations about the body, according to court documents.

The victim was taken to Medstar, where she is listed in critical condition and intubated.

Defense Attorney Requests Evidence

A defense attorney requested that the prosecution hand over evidence in a murder case.

Raymond Davis is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting 39-year-old Henry Hackett on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE on June 3.

The prosecution agreed to provide defense attorney Matthew Davies with the evidence.

Davis, 46, was found at the scene inside a vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds to the left hip and leg. The defendant said he was shot in front of his home on the 2300 block of Altamont Place, SE. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found a handgun in the defendant’s car and noted that he was acting strange.

DC Superior Court Judge John Campbell scheduled Davis’ next hearing for Sept. 21.

Search