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Judge Releases Defendant After Re-Sentencing Him

A DC Superior Court judge re-sentenced a defendant on April 29, which resulted in his release.

Wendell Pickett pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle on Aug. 15, 2018.

Judge Todd Edelman amended Pickett’s sentence to immediately release him from jail. Judge Edelman also reinstated the one year of probation that was initially revoked.

Pickett was sentenced to serve 17 months on Oct. 26, 2018. Pickett was supposed to serve one year of probation after his release however, on Sept. 9, 2019, the probation was revoked by Judge Kimberly Knowles.

On April 18, Pickett’s attorney, Samuel Bogash, filed an emergency motion to release Pickett due to COVID-19.

Judge Reschedules Hearing to Give Counsel Time to Prepare

A DC Superior Court judge decided April 29 to reschedule a hearing.

Dorsey Mack is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed with a vehicle and assault with the intent to kill while armed with a knife.

Judge Todd Edelman rescheduled Mack’s status hearing on April 29 to give counsel time to prepare arguments.

The status hearing is now scheduled to occur on May 4.

Judge Orders Inmate Be Tested for COVID-19

On April 29, a DC Superior Court judge ordered that an inmate at the DC Jail be tested for the coronavirus.

Darnell Savoy is charged with conspiracy, assault with intent to kill with a firearm and assault knowingly while armed with a firearm for shooting a man and his child on Dec. 28, 2019. According to court documents, the shooting occurred as a result of mistaken identity.

Judge Todd Edelman ordered that Savoy be tested for COVID-19 by May 1. Judge Edelman also said he wanted to know why Savoy had not already been tested for the virus.

Savoy is scheduled for a status hearing on June 19.

Judge Denies Motion to Reconsider Release

A DC Superior Court judge denied a defendant’s renewed motion for release due to COVID-19.

Tony Horne is charged with burglary two while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery while armed, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of an unregistered firearm, carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, assault on a police officer, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance while armed, first-degree theft, assault with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping while armed.

Horne was denied his motion for release on April 8, however his defense attorney, Kevann Gardner, renewed the motion which was subsequently denied by Judge Todd Edelman on April 29.

On April 27, Horne was scheduled to have a hearing but was unable to attend because he was being held in isolation at the DC Jail. An inmate is held in isolation when that inmate tests positive for the coronavirus.

Horne is scheduled for a status hearing on June 19.

District Court Judge Orders Inspectors to Return to DC Jail

Two court-appointed inspectors who confirmed health and safety issues about COVID-19 conditions at the DC Jail are being sent back to see if anything’s changed. 

District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued the order April 28, sending Grace M Lopes and Mark Jordan back to the jail to answer specific questions:

  • How inmates who are not being quarantined are able to access medical care?
  • How residents in quarantine and isolation units are being monitored?
  • Is the DC DOC providing consistent and reliable access to legal calls, personal telephone calls, running water, daily showers and clean clothing and linens for inmates in isolation?
  • Do inmates have access to cleaning materials and equipment?
  • Is DC DOC enforcing social distancing?
  • Have staff received training on properly fitting personal protective equipment (PPE), disposing PPE and operations for the non-touch, infrared thermometers?
  • Has the DC DOC gotten a registered sanitarian to oversee an environmental health and safety programs?
  • Has the DC DOC contracted a cleaning service for the secure side of the facility?
  • Has the DC DOC consulted with a public health professional to strengthen the COVID-19 education program for staff and inmates?
  • If DC DOC has consulted with a health professional, have strategies for the education program been implemented?

The inspectors are ordered to give an oral report on May 11 and a written report on May 20. 

Four DC Jail inmates, Edward Banks, D’Angelo Phillips, Eric Smith and Keon Jackson, filed a lawsuit against the DC DOC’s director and warden on March 30, claiming that the DC DOC willfully disregarded the inmates’ health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jackson is no longer a part of the lawsuit because he was released on bail.

On April 20, after Lopes and Jordan’s first report, Judge Kollar-Kotelly granted part of the plaintiffs’ temporary restraining order for injunctive relief against DC Jail, agreeing that DC DOC has failed to take adequate precautions for the safety of prisoners during the pandemic emergency. 

In addition to ordering the inspectors to provide an update on conditions at the jail’s facilities, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered the inmates’ amended motion for a preliminary injunction to be delivered  by May 15; a response from the DC DOC, that is being represented by the DC Office of the Attorney General and a private law firm, is due by May 22 and the inmates reply to that by May 26. 

Crime Alerts: April 28

Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. D.C. Witness was able to track two crime alerts sent out from the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The most recent alert was sent out at 6:48 p.m. in relation to a stabbing that occurred in the 600 block of N Street, NW. No lookout was released in relation to the stabbing. 

The first alert came at 11:34 a.m. in relation to shooting that occurred on the 1800 block of 24th Street, NE. A lookout was released for a black male with a skinny build, wearing a black jacket. The suspect was seen fleeing the crime scene in an older model white Cadillac. 

Written by Wyatt Mullins 

Court Update: April 28

On April 28, judges at the DC Superior Courthouse released seven inmates five of which were charged with misdemeanor offenses.

One defendant had a bail set because he refused to attend the hearing for his release.

There were four hearings that were not in relation to emergency releases because of COVID-19. One was a mental observation hearing, another was a trial readiness hearing that were all rescheduled due to the inability to have in court hearings. One hearing was a probation show cause hearing where the defendant was given more time to get in compliance with his release conditions. Two defendants were scheduled for jury trials, but those trial were rescheduled to July.

A judge sentenced a defendant to probation. A week earlier a judge denied the defendant’s release because of COVID-19, but rescheduled his sentencing date to occur on April 28 instead of June.

In total there were 16 defendants that had cases. A majority of the cases were for bond review hearings. You can read about each case on dcwitness.org.

Judge Reschedules Jury Trial to Begin in Summer

A jury trial was continued April 28 until the summer.

Cornelle Williams and Stephon Harrigan are charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device.

Williams and Harrigan were scheduled to begin trial on April 28. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the unavailability of jurors the co-defendant trial will now begin on July 14.

Harrigan’s motion for release for COVID-19 was denied on April 14. William’s motion for release because of the coronavirus was filed on April 16 and has not been addressed yet.

Neither defendant has hearing scheduled before the trial.

Judge Grants Release from Halfway House that is Closing

A DC Superior Court judge released April 28 an inmate from a halfway house because the halfway house will be closing at the end of the month.

Donald Cook is charged with assault with the intent to kill for stabbing a man on Feb. 29.

Judge Juliet McKenna released Cook from Hope Village, because it is closing for good at the end of April.

Cook is now released under the high intensity supervision program (HISP).

Hope Village is the only men’s federal halfway house in close proximity to DC. Eighty-five percent of the inmates in Hope Village have been released to home confinement.

According to WUSA9, 31 men who were housed at Hope Village were moved to Baltimore.

Judge Sentences Assault Defendant to Probation

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant on April 28 to serve time on probation.

Monroe Holloway pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon on Feb. 7 for attempting to shoot a woman and her friend on Nov. 11, 2019.

Holloway was sentenced to 18 months in jail. The whole time was suspended. The defendant’s three years of supervised release was also suspended.

Holloway will have to serve two years on probation.

In November of 2019, Holloway was released to a halfway house. Judge Todd Edelman decided against releasing Holloway from the halfway house on April 23 after Holloway motioned for release because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of release, Holloway’s sentencing date was rescheduled from June 6 to April 28.

Document: Police Arrest 2 Juveniles for Armed Carjacking

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested April 27, two juveniles suspected in an armed carjacking. One of the juveniles is also suspected in various theft cases over the span of five days.

According to a press release, the juveniles are charged with armed carjacking (gun) for allegedly pulling a gun on a victim and taking that victim’s vehicle on the 4200 block of 12th Street, NE on April 27.

One of the juveniles allegedly fired gunshots at a victim while the victim was inside another vehicle on April 26 on the 100 block of U Street, NE. The juvenile also allegedly pulled a gun on a victim who was inside a vehicle on April 25 on the 1700 block of 2nd Street, NE.

The juvenile is being charged with theft one (stolen auto), armed carjacking (gun) and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (gun).

On April 24, the same juvenile allegedly pulled a gun and threatened a victim on the 300 block of Rhode Island Avenue, NE.

On April 22, the same juvenile allegedly took a vehicle on the 100 block of Quincy Place, NE.

Police are still investigating the case.

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Judge Releases Defendant Who Violated Bail

On April 28, a DC judge released a man who violated his bail multiple times.

Carl Willis is charged with misdemeanor offenses for simple assault and bail violation. He was also charged with two more counts for simple assault and bail violation in connection to domestic violence cases.

Willis was being held on a $500 bail in February.

The defendant is scheduled for a status hearing on July 2.

Four More Inmates Test Positive at DC Jail

The DC Department of Corrections announced April 28 that four more inmates tested positive for the coronavirus.

All of the inmates are male. One inmate is 27 years old and another inmate in 32 years old. There are two inmates who are 54 years old. All inmates have been placed in isolation.

All of the inmates were housed in the Central Detention Facility.

A total of 45 inmates are in isolation with 85 inmates returning to general population after recovering from their illnesses. The number of inmates, who are in isolation, have decreased by seven since April 26.

The DC Jail has also sent six inmates to the hospital for observation and treatment.

According to a press release, 192 inmates who are housed at the Correctional Treatment Facility have been released from quarantine. The inmates are back in the general population.

According to the jail’s policy, in order for an inmate to be released to the general population, that inmate must be free from fever for at least 72 hours with using fever-reducing medication; show improvements in other, symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath; and a period of at least seven days needs to pass since the symptoms first appeared.

Judge Releases Woman from Custody

A DC judge released a woman from custody on April 28.

Deborah Pipkin is charged with misdemeanor offenses including simple assault and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon.

Judge Michael Ryan decided to release Pipkin but imposed release conditions to ensure her return to court and the safety of the community.

Pipkin was released on personal recognizance in 2019, but in January she violated bail by not appearing at a hearing. She has been held without bail since February.

Pipkin is scheduled for July 2.