More than 150 DC Jail Inmates Test Positive for COVID-19

DC Jail’s number of inmates who tested positive for the coronavirus increased by five on May 5. According to the DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC), 154 inmates have tested positive for the virus.

A press release states that the five inmates, who are all male, are being held in the Central Detention Facility (CDF). Three of the men are aged in their 20s and two men are aged in their 30s.

Since April 20, all of the inmates diagnosed with COVID-19 have been held at the CDF.

Of the inmates who have contracted the coronavirus, 57 detainees are being held in isolation, while 97 inmates have recovered from their illnesses and returned to the jail’s 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 without 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.

Four inmates, who were previously diagnosed with the coronavirus, are being treated for their illnesses at a local hospital. The number of inmates being treated at the hospital has decreased by one since Thursday.

The District’s site on the coronavirus states that 61 personnel members at the DC DOC tested positive for the coronavirus as of May 4. Of those workers, 39 members are not at work, while 21 personnel members have recovered from their illnesses and returned to their positions. One personnel member died from the virus.

Document: Late Night Shooting Turns into Homicide

A little before 11 p.m. on May 4, the Metropolitan Police Department sent out an alert for a shooting on the 100 block of Q Street, NW. On May 5, the police sent out a homicide notice for the shooting.

According to a press release, police are investigating the death of 38-yar-old Stanley Dawkins, who was a resident of Northwest, DC. Dawkins 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 in this case or any other homicide in DC. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.

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Court Update: May 4

On May 4, judges at the DC Superior Courthouse released three inmates.

There were seven hearings that were not in relation to emergency releases because of COVID-19. Two were pretrial show cause hearings that led to the judge issuing one defendant a continuance and sending out a bench warrant for another defendant. Three probation hearings led to one bench warrant being issued and two rescheduled hearings. Two bond review hearings led to judges issuing one medical mandate and one communication mandate.

Two bond review hearings were rescheduled.

One defendant’s charges were dismissed.

One defendant was re-sentenced but not released.

Another was detained for a 24-hour forensic observation exam.

Judges denied motions for release for five defendants.

In total there were 20 defendants that had cases. A majority of the cases were for bond review hearings. You can read about each case on dcwitness.org.

Judge Allows Defendant to Get Testing for Treatment Facility

A DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing May 4 to allow a defendant to get the neccessary testing in order to enter a treatment facility.

Raekwon Sutton is serving 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm, destruction of property less than $1,000 and unlawful entry of private property on Dec. 4, 2018.

Judge Michael O’Keefe continued the hearing to allow Sutton time to take tests so he could enter a treatment facility. D.C. Witness was not able to verify the types of tests Sutton would take, nor the treatment facility he is trying to get in to.

A probation show cause hearing is scheduled for May 6.

Judge Releases Defendant Held at Mental Hospital

A DC Superior Court judge released a defendant who was being held in a mental hospital.

Corey Bridges is charged with simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm, attempted second-degree theft, destruction of property less than $1,000 and bail violation.

Bridges had been held at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution since July 18, 2019. On May 4, Judge Neal Kravitz ordered Bridges’ release from the hospital and into the High Intensity Supervision Program because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The defendant has release conditions that were not specified and a stay away order.

Bridges has a status hearing scheduled on July 6.

Judge Releases Defendant with Misdemeanor Charges

Defendant with multiple misdemeanors was released from a mental institution on May 4.

Richard Holland was charged with unlawful entry of private property, second degree and bail violation. Holland was being held at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC psychiatric institution.

Judge Michael Ryan dismissed Holland’s charges, which resulted in Holland’s release.

Judge Orders Defendant to Have Private Phone Calls With Attorney

A DC Superior Court judge ordered May 4 that a defendant be able to have private phone calls with his attorney.

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 Neal Kravitz ordered that the DC Department of Corrections allow Mack to have private, confidential phone calls with his attorney Ronald Resetarits.

Judge Kravitz also denied Mack’s request for release because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A felony status conference is scheduled for July 6.

Judge Releases Defendant but Will Detain Him Again

A DC Superior Court judge released an inmate, so he could take care of another matter.

Marcus Thomas is charged with possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Judge Neal Kravitz released Thomas on personal recognizance in order to take care of a parole detainer for a case stemming from a 2016 distribution of a controlled substance charge. Kravitz said he would impose a hold on Thomas once he took care of the detainer.

Thomas also tested positive for COVID-19.

Another bond review review hearing is scheduled May 6.

Judge Inquires About DC Jail Defendant’s Medication

An attorney from the Office of the Attorney General of the District of Columbia agreed to check and make sure a defendant received his proper medication.

Stephon Freshley is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed with a firearm and conspiracy.

The attorney said he would email DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz the information once he received it.

Freshley is scheduled for a status hearing on June 16.

Freshley motioned for release because of the COVID-19 pandemic in March. His release was denied on April 30.

Prosecution Agrees to Check On Convicted Murderer’s Condition

A prosecutor agreed to check in on a convicted murder’s condition on May 4.

Arik Sims was sentenced to serve 40 years in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder and weapons charges for killing 33-year-old Lamar Fonville on 4700 block of Georgia Avenue, NW on Sept. 20, 2012.

The prosecutor told Judge Neal Kravitz that he would check on Sims’ condition and notify the judge and the defense counsel of Sims’ medical condition and list of medications he is taking, if any.

In September of 2019 Appellate Judge Catherine Easterly ruled that the case should be reopened after the defense claimed that two hearsay statements were introduced into the 2014 trial without the witnesses being present to testify to the facts of the statements at the trial.

A new trial for Sims is scheduled to begin on March 22, 2021.

Sims is currently being held at DC jail for other charges that are not known.

Sims filed a motion for release on April 9. The motion was denied on April 29.

Sims is scheduled for a status hearing on June 12.

Judge Orders Prosecution to Check In on Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge ordered May 4 the prosecution to check in on a defendant.

Joseph Cephas is charged with robbery while armed with a firearm.

Judge Neal Kravitz ordered the prosecution to check in on Cephas’ medical condition to see if he is allowed back into the medical unit.

The defendant motion for emergency release on April 9. The motion was denied on April 29.

It is unclear if Cephas tested positive for COVID-19.

Cephas is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 30.

Judge Releases Misdemeanant

A DC Superior Court judge released a woman charged with multiple misdemeanors from DC Jail on May 4.

Jessica Lawrence is charged with simple assault and bail violations. She filed an emergency motion for release because of COVID-19.

Judge Neal Kravitz released under the High Intensity Supervision Program.

Lawrence was initially released after she was arrested, but the release was revoked twice because Lawrence could not be located.

Lawrence is scheduled for a status hearing on July 20.

Document: Police Arrest Suspect in Assault

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested a suspect on May 1.

According to a press release, the suspect is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (knife).

The suspect apparently pulled a knife on a victim, cutting that victim after an altercation on the 300 block of Delafield Place, NW. The victim refused treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

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Judge Lets US Attorney’s Office Join Lawsuit Against DC Jail

Inmates suing the DC Department of Corrections over the response to COVID-19 lost a round in their lawsuit today.

District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled on May 1, that the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) will join the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) as defendants in the case. The suit alleges that the DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) wilfully disregarded inmate health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Defender’s Service on behalf of the inmates had argued against allowing the USAO to join, saying it was a local matter that did not involve the federal agency.

The OAG countered that the USAO should join because most of the inmates held by the DC DOC had been charged or convicted of federal crimes and were federal rather than D.C. prisoners.

According to the OAG, only 42 inmates out of the 1,442 inmates currently held at DC DOC facilities are there for local DC crimes.

A table offered by the Jail and Community Corrections System (JACCS) shows that the OAG only had authority over 2.9 percent of the inmates being held at DC DOC facilities on April 13.

According to the table:

864 inmates (59.9 percent) were held under the USAO’s authority,
278 (19.3 percent) held under Intergovernmental Agreements with the United States Marshals Service,
172 inmates (11.9 percent) held under the authority of the United States Parole Commission.

“If the Court is inclined to consider a reduction of the inmate population, or the release of inmates generally, the United States should be permitted to articulate and defend its interest in this action,” the motion states. “The absence of the United States as a party would ‘as a practical matter impair or impede the [United States’] ability to protect [its] interest’ in carrying out prosecutions from indictment to sentencing.”

A teleconference is scheduled for May 11 when two court-appointed inspectors will provide an update on conditions at the jail.

Document: Police Correct Name of Homicide Victim

The Metropolitan Police Department corrected the name of a homicide victim May 4.

According to a press release, officers found 27-year-old John Maurice Evans suffering from gunshot wounds on the 4500 block of Clay Street, NE. When the homicide was first reported on May 3, the victim was mistakenly identified as 28-year-old DeJohn Evans.

The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case or any other homicide case in DC. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may also be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.

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