Court Updates: April 22

On April 22, judges at the DC Superior Courthouse released one inmate.

Three defendants’ bond review hearings were carried for a ruling at a later date.

There were 12 hearings that were not in relation to emergency releases because of COVID-19. Eleven of those hearings were for defendants being charged as fugitives from justice. One inmate’s bond review hearing was scheduled in error

Judges also denied the release of eight inmates.

In total there were 25 defendants that had cases. A majority of the cases were for bond review hearings. You can read about each case on dcwitness.org.

One of the defendant’s Hillman Jordan is scheduled for a status hearing on July 8, after his request for release was denied April 22.

Hillman is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 64-year-old Jawaid Bhutto on the 2600 block of Wade Road, SE on March 1. A nearby security camera recorded the murder, according to court documents.

Judge Denies Murder Defendant’s Release

A DC Superior Court judge denied the release of an inmate April 22.

Devon Stephens, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed (felony murder) for allegedly shooting 34-year-old Eugene Isaac, Jr. on Feb. 15.

Judge Danya Dayson denied Stephens’ request for release and appointed attorney Lisbeth Sapirstein to be his attorney.

Lejeevan Toudle, 36, was also arrested in connection to the murder on April 17.

Stephons is scheduled for a mental observation hearing on June 18.

Toudle is scheduled for a felony status conference on June 18.

More DC Jail Inmates Diagnosed with COVID-19

Eight more inmates housed in the Central Detention Facility of the DC Jail tested positive for the coronavirus on April 22.

According to a press release, all of the inmates are male. One inmate is 19 years old, three inmates are in their 20s, one inmate is 38 years old and two inmates are in their 40s.

Two inmates, who previously tested positive for the coronavirus, were transported to the hospital for observation.

As of April 22, 46 inmates have tested positive and are in isolation. Fifty-seven inmates have recovered from their illnesses and returned to the general population.

In order for an inmate to return to the general population, that inmate has to be free from fever for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, according to the release.

The inmate must also show improvements in other symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath. For inmates to go back into general population at least a week needs to pass since the first symptoms appeared, the release says.

On April 13, the DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) announced that one inmate died from the coronavirus.

According to the District’s site on the coronavirus, 27 personnel members at the DC DOC have tested positive forCOVID-19. Nineteen of those members are not at work and seven members have recovered from their symptoms and returned. One personnel member died from the coronavirus.

Fugitive From Justice Cases

On April 22, 11 cases for 11 fugitive of justice defendants were heard.

Charges were dropped for Anthony Thomas, John Stewart, Bill Kachle, Elijah Johnson, Caldon Esdaille and Wendell Bates.

Keith Wilson, Keon Taylor and David Thomas’ extradition hearings were waived and their cases were closed.

Richardo Garrett and Allen Toney paid cash bonds for release.

There were no bench warrants issued and no one was detained.

Judge Denies Release; Orders Defendant Be Seen by Medical Personnel

A DC Superior Court judge denied a defendant’s request to be released April 22 but ordered that he receive medical attention.

Eric Limes pleaded guilty to assault with significant bodily injury on Feb. 10.

Judge Danya Dayson ordered that Limes be seen by the medical unit in DC Jail regarding symptoms he has been experiencing. She required that he see the medical unit within 24 hours. His specific symptoms were not listed.

Limes filed a motion for release on March 30 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Limes is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8.

Burglary Defendant Remains in Jail

A judge decided April 22 not to release a defendant because of the crime committed.

Tracy Kent, who is also known as Trayvon Becton, Tracy Dunbar Kent and Trevon Jackson, is charged with second-degree burglary for breaking into a house on the 1200 block of Wylie Street, NE and using the home owners credit card to make fraudulent purchases.

Judge Danya Dayson denied Kent’s motion to be released because of the burglary and also because of specific representations that the prosecution made. Those representations were not explained.

Kent motioned for release on March 24 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A jury trial is scheduled to begin on July 8.

Inmate Needs Medical Eval while in Jail, Judge Says

A DC Superior Court judge ordered April 22 that an inmate receive a medical evaluation while incarcerated.

Juan Galla is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

DC Judge Danya Dayson ordered that the necessary medical supplies needed to conduct Galla’s medical evaluation be available at the DC Jail. She also ordered that the evaluation take place within the next 24 hours.

Galla is scheduled for a felony conference status on July 8.

Judge Says DC Jail Inmates ‘Entitled to Injunctive Relief,’ Not Release

With an emergency order issued on April 20, the next stage in a coronavirus case against the DC Department of Corrections’ (DC DOC) will decide whether the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia should be added as a defendant as well.

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

The DC DOC asked for the US Attorney Office for DC (USAO) to be added to the case while the prisoners and ACLU opposed the addition. On April 22, the USAO asked to provide more information to support the request for it to join the case.

The argument is about the split between the local and federal authority. The USAO argues that because this is happening in federal court, the federal US Attorney needs to be involved in any discussion of prisoner release. The prisoners argue that is irrelevant and these are new arguments that should not be allowed.

The motions follow District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly’s order, granting part of the plaintiffs’ temporary restraining order (TRO) requests against the DC jail.

Judge Kollar-Kotelly said that the plaintiffs had been able to show that irreparable harm would be caused if there was a delay and they were entitled to injunctive relief from the defendant, including:

Expediting sick call requests and responses on non-quarantine units
Better documentation on sick and urgent care calls
Ensure cell restrictions are appropriately monitored, tracked, and corrective action is expedited
Appropriate monitoring of new inmates
Consulting with public health professionals about strategies that can strengthen COVID-19-related education for both staff and inmates
Additional staff training on use of non-touch, infrared thermometers
Provide consistent and reliable access to legal calls, personal telephone calls, daily showers, and clean clothing and clean linens to all inmates in isolation
Appropriate and consistent implementation of social distancing
Address limitations in current staffing levels and supervisory oversight
Provide enhanced education related to the importance of social distancing
Make sure staff is appropriately fitted and informed about personal protective equipment (PPE)
Reduce inmate congregation in close quarters in common spaces
Direct supervision by housing officers and mid-level managers

Judge Kollar-Kotelly denied several other requests including the release of inmates and the appointment of an expert to review downsizing the jail and its population. She ruled those measures were not appropriate at this time.

A teleconference in the case on the plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction is scheduled for April 22.

On April 23, the PDS and the ACLU on behalf of the inmates filed more information to support their case for why the USAO should not join with the DC DOC, reaffirming their position that the matter is local and not federal.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6867221-Order.html” responsive=true]

Judge Delays Ruling for Defense to Get Medical Records

On April 22, a DC Superior Court judge delayed her ruling on a defendant’s release to allow the defense to obtain medical records.

Andre Jones is charged with simple assault and prison breach for leaving Hope Village, a halfway house, in October of 2019 and not returning.

Judge Danya Dayson agreed to delay her ruling on Jones’ release so his attorney can get more medical records that would support his placement in a psychiatric program under pre-trial services.

Another bond review hearing is scheduled to occur on April 30.

Judge Denies Release, Fears Defendant Wouldn’t Comply with Conditions

A DCSuperior Court judge denied April 22 an inmates release because she did not think the defendant would comply with release conditions.

Travon Hungerford is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon gun and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

Judge Danya Dayson denied Hungerford’s request for release because she did not believe there would be any set of conditions that Hungerford would comply with.

Hungerford filed an emergency motion for release on March 20 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A felony status conference is scheduled to occur on July 8.

Judge Carries Case for One Day

A DC Superior Court judge carried a case for one day before deciding whether to release a defendant.

Monroe Holloway pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon on Feb. 7 for shooting a gun in the direction of the mother of his child on Nov. 11, 2019.

Judge Danya Dayson decided to carry the case until April 23.

Holloway is currently being held in a halfway house.

Judge Releases Inmate, Determines Conditions are Suitable

A DC Superior Court judge released an inmate after finding suitable release conditions.

Cornell Glover is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged roll in an assault of a woman on the 3500 block of 18th Street, SE, on Dec. 29, 2019. He is pending a grand jury.

Judge Danya Dayson released Glover with pre-trial conditions that would be suitable for his DC jurisdiction case as well as the federal case that is currently pending against him. Glover motioned for release on April 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Glover is scheduled for a July 8 felony status conference.

Judge Denies Inmate’s Release

A DC Superior Court judge denied the release of an inmate.

Evelyn Jones pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon on Jan. 3. However, on March 13 she filed a motion to withdraw her guilty plea.

Judge Danya Dayson denied her release.

Jones filed for release on March 19 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jones has a status hearing scheduled for July 8.

Crime Alerts: April 21-April 22

Between the hours of 8 p.m. on April 21 and 8 a.m. on April 22 there were two crime alerts dispatched from the Metropolitan Police Department.

Both alerts were in relation to two different robberies that occurred in the Southeast quadrant.

At 11:20 p.m. an alert for a robbery that occurred on the 1600 block of Fairlawn Ave., SE. The suspects stole a gray, 4-door Chevrolet. Police are looking for three suspects.

The first alert was dispatched at 8:20 p.m. for a robbery that occurred in the 3200 block of 8th Street SE. Police are looking for a black male between the ages of 20-25, medium complexion, 5’8″/5’9″ in height, and medium build. He was last seen wearing a grey hoodie. Police say the suspect is armed with a handgun.

Document: Juvenile Arrested for Multiple Burglaries

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested a juvenile April 21 for two burglaries committed in October of 2019 and April.

According to a press release, the juvenile is charged with burglary two for allegedly entering an establishment by force on the 4400 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW on April 15 and taking property.

The juvenile is also being charged for allegedly entering an occupied residence on the 1400 block of Church Street, NW and taking property on Oct. 12, 2019.

The suspect fled the scene of both crimes.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6850864-4-21-20-Arrest-Made-in-a-Burglary-Offenses-in.html” responsive=true]

Search