Judge to Review Constitutional Issues for Inmate’s Release

A judge agreed to review information regarding a murder defendant’s Constitutional rights before making a final decision on his release.

Devin Hill ,sometimes referred to as Devin Smith, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 28-year-old Michael Cunningham on the 3000 block of 30th Street, SE on Nov. 29, 2019.

Judge Danya Dayson found no factual support as to why Hill should be released but agreed to hear arguments about Hill’s Constitutional rights being violated and will file a written order.

On April 17, Hill’s defense attorney, Roderick Thompson, requested a continuance of the hearing until April 20 in order to make a determination on Hill’s health.

Hill was supposed to be examined by a doctor and the results would be provided to the prosecution. However, it is unclear whether or not Hill had the examination or not.

Hill is scheduled for a felony status conference on June 9.

Police Write 2 Business Violations, One Stems from COVID-19 Pandemic

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) reported two business violations during the week of April 11-April 19.

However, unlike the weeks before, only one violation was related to the mayor’s public emergency orders in response to the coronavirus. The other violation dealt with selling alcohol.

On April 18, a person who was posted in front of The Dirty Waters Sports Bar. According to the incident report, the individual was in violation of selling alcohol with chips instead of prepared food. Police sent him on his way.

On April 17, a restaurant in Ward 2 was cited for violating Mayor Muriel Bowser’s order that hotel workers, guests, and visitors; food establishment workers and customers; anyone who gives or receives rides in a rideshare service, taxi or private transportation service; and workers for public transportation services wear a face masks.

The face masks clause is part of the mayor’s public emergency and stay-at-home order, which is effective until May 15.

According to documents obtained from the MPD, 18 businesses have received violations since mid-March to April 19 for not abiding by the mayor’s orders..

D.C. Witness reported that there were 16 business violators from mid-March until April 4.

There were no business violations from April 5 – April 10, according to the MPD.

Read more information about the coronavirus in the District, here.

Judges Release 43 percent of Cases Heard

Judges presided over 84 defendants’ cases at the DC Superior Courthouse between April 9 and April 17. Of the cases, only 43 percent of the defendants were released.

DC Superior Court Judges Neal Kravitz Anita Josey-Herring, Rainey Brandt, Michael Ryan, John Campbell , Lynn Leibovitz and Juliet McKenna presided over all the cases. Most the cases heard were also felony defendants or defendants charged with both felonies and misdemeanors.

Judge Anita Josey-Herring has heard the most cases in this time span with 38. Judge Herring has released 17 defendants.

JudgeNeal Kravitz has heard 20 cases since April 9. He released three defendants.

Judge Michael Ryan has heard 9 cases since April 9, releasing five of nine of the defendant’s to St. Elizabeth’s psychiatric hospital.

Judge Rainey Brandt has mainly only presided over fugitive from justice extradition hearings. She has heard 13 cases since April 9, releasing nine defendants.. She has also issued two bench orders in those matters.

Judge Juliet McKenna has heard two cases since April 9. She released one defendant on April 10 and delayed the presentment of Kenyatta Williams, who is charged with burglary, until he is released from the hospital. Williams is scheduled for a presentment on April 20.

Judge John Campbell heard one case where he re-sentenced murder defendant Darrick Evans, who was initially sentenced to 40 years in prison for murdering a 14-year-old boy who was picking up his cousin. The boy was not the intended target. The re-sentencing was granted under policy that says that convicts who we charged as youth and have spent more than 20 years in prison could have their sentences modified.

Judge Lynn Leibovitz has only heard one case where she decided to keep a man charged with sexual abuse of a minor on probation after he requested to have his probation revoked.

Sixty-five percent of the cases were in regards to defendants with felonies or defendants charged with both felonies and misdemeanors. Seventeen percent of the cases were for defendant’s charged with misdemeanors. Fifteen percent of the cases were of people charged with being a fugitive from justice.

Another DC Jail Inmate Sent to Hospital for COVID-19

Another DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) inmate was transported to the hospital for observation.

According to a press release, the inmate is 59 years old. Two inmates have been sent to the hospital in the last two days.

The DC DOC also reported that eight more inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus as of April 19.

The eight inmates are all male between the ages of 25-52 years old.

Two of the new inmates were previously quarantined at the jail’s Correctional Treatment Facility out of precaution because they were in proximity to another inmate who tested positive.

The other six inmates were housed in the Central Detention Facility.

As of April 19, 39 inmates tested positive for the virus. All of the inmates who have tested positive are in isolation.

Fifty inmates have recovered from their illnesses and were released back into the jail’s general population.

For an inmate to be released back into general population, that inmate has to be free from fever for at least 72 hours without using any fever-reducing medications; improvements in the resident’s other symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath; and at least 7 days since the first symptoms appeared, according to the release.

Document: Homicide in Shipley Terrace

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting on the 3400 Block of 24^th Street, SE.

According to a press release, 28 year-old Toussaunt Strong was located April 18 suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The department is offering up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in Washington, DC. Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE — 50411.

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DC Jail Inmate Recently Hospitalized for Coronavirus

One DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) inmate, who tested positive for the coronavirus, has been sent to the hospital.

According to a press release, the 30-year-old inmate was sent for observation.

The DC DOC also reported seven new positive cases in the jail facilities.

All of the new positive cases are male between the ages of 21-38 years old.

One of the new inmates was previously quarantined at the Correctional Treatment Facility because the individual was in proximity to another inmate who tested positive.

The other six inmates were housed in the Central Detention Facility.

As of April 18, 31 inmates have tested positive for the virus. All of the inmates who have tested positive are in isolation.

Fifty inmates have recovered from their illnesses and were released back into the jail’s general population.

For an inmate to be released back into general population, that inmate has to be free from fever for at least 72 hours without using any fever-reducing medications; improvements in the resident’s other symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath; and at least 7 days since the first symptoms appeared, according to the release.

Crime Alerts: April 17

Between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on April 17, D.C. Witness was able to track two crime alerts sent out by the Metropolitan Police Department.

One alert was at 6:23 p.m. in relation to a seventh district robbery that occurred in the 500 block of Malcolm X Avenue, SE. A lookout was released detailing two black males with a light complexion. They are described as wearing black coats with fur around the hood, and armed with handguns.

The other alert came at 12:24 p.m. in relation to a fifth district robbery that occurred in the 1300 Block of 2nd Street, NE. A lookout was released for a black male with short hair wearing black jeans and a gray puffy jacket.

Written by Wyatt Mullins

Document: Police Arrest Multiple Suspects for Robberies

On April 17, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced that multiple arrest were made for multiple robberies in Northeast and Southeast, DC.

On April 11, officers from the MPD arrested a 19-year-old suspect and a juvenile male, charging them with assault with the intent to commit robber while armed for allegedly robbing a victim by gunpoint on the 1400 block of G Street, NE.

The suspects are also charged with armed robbery (gun) for allegedly robbing other people by gunpoint on the 600 block of 14th Street, NE. Police were able to recover a handgun from the scene.

The suspects were apprehended by officers responding to the second scene.

On April 15, another juvenile was arrested for robbery (force and violence).

According to the release, the juvenile assaulted and stole a victim’s property on March 17 on the 2400 block of Martin Luther King Avenue, SE.

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Document: Police Arrest Suspect in 2 Burglaries

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested a suspect they believe is connected to two burglaries and the destruction of property in Northeast, DC.

According to a press release, the suspect is charged with burglary two and destruction of property for allegedly breaking a window to an establishment on the 1300 block of H Street, NE on April 14. The suspect also allegedly took property from two establishments on the 200 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE and the 1200 block of H Street, NE on April 15 and April 17, respectively.

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Judge Decides to Keep Defendant Charged with Abuse on Probation

A DC Superior Court judge denied April 17 revoking probation for a defendant charged with sexual abuse of a child.

Jesus Downing, 46, is charged with misdemeanor sexual abuse of a child or a minor for his alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl in July of 2015.

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet Mckenna denied the motion to revoke Downing’s probation, however Downing will continue to be monitored via GPS and remain at home under 24-hour confinement. He is also required to stay away from children.

A probation show cause hearing is scheduled for July 17.

Written by Wyatt Mullins

DC Courts: April 17

On April 17, judges at the DC Superior Court moved four inmates from DC Jail to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital. Judges also denied the release of six inmates, , delayed cases for two defendants and vacated two defendant’s hearings.

In total there were 24 defendants that had cases. A majority of the cases were bond review hearings.

One of the defendant’s, Edward Banks , 47, is scheduled for sentencing on June 26. Banks pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the death of 45-year-old Abraham Binn at a homeless shelter on the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE on Aug. 20. Banks pleaded guilty in February.

Banks is also a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the DC Department of Corrections for intentionally disregarding the health and safety of inmates during the pandemic. The lawsuit is currently being heard in the DC District Court.

Bond Hearing Vacated for Defendant

An April 17 bond review hearing was vacated for a defendant charged with assault.

Brian Clinton, 41, is charged with simple assault, threats to do bodily harm, and destruction of property for his alleged assault of Richard Llamas in the 1300 block of New York Ave, NE, on Dec. 19, 2019.

According to court documents, officers responded at approximately 6:45 a.m. on Dec. 19 to a local homeless shelter bathroom. As officers entered, they saw Clinton repeatedly striking Llamas in the chest with his right hand. Officers then separated both parties, and handcuffed Clinton.

An ambulance was dispatched, however Llamas had no injuries and no medical attention was necessary.

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan scheduled a mental observation hearing for Clinton on July 6.

Written by Wyatt Mullins

Burglary Defendant Hospitalized

A burglary defendant is currently being hospitalized.

Kennyatta Williams is charged with burglary II for his alleged roll in a burglary that occurred in the 2300 block of Good Hope Road, SE, on April 8.

He is scheduled for a presentment on April 18.

Written by Wyatt Mullins

Document: Juvenile Arrested for Carjacking

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested a juvenile April 16.

The juvenile is being charged with armed carjacking for allegedly pulling a gun on a victim and demanding the victim step out the vehicle earlier that day. The incident occurred on the 1800 block of Lamont Street, NW.

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Judge Reschedules Bond Hearing for Defendant

A defendant’s hearing was rescheduled to a different date.

Mamadou Seck was charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction of less than a year.

The court rescheduled a bond review hearing set for April 17. It is now scheduled for April 20.

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