Hearing Postponed to Give Defense Attorney More Time To Speak with Client

A DC Superior Court judge postponed a hearing to provide more time for the defense to construct a specific plan regarding the defendant’s mental health issues.

Edward Cowser was charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm, second-degree theft, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, and simple assault. According to court documents, on April 25, Cowser attempted to steal a Natty Daddy from Greenway Liquors on the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. After a witness said he did not pay for the item, Cowser took out a knife, pointed it at the witness and said “I will kill you.”

Defense attorney Jamison Koehler said he was upset with the lack of communication he was able to have with his client. The lack of communication is a result of the new procedure for cases.

The prosecutor said Cowser’s history of violent behavior places him as a threat to the community. He has seven cases pending in the DC Superior Court, three of which involved a knife.

Cowser, 40, wishes to be released due to his alleged change in mental state and heightened susceptibility to the physical dangers presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. He suffers from epilepsy, glaucoma, high blood pressure, and a bullet lodged in his head. Since his incarceration, Cowser has had three seizures.

Cowser was unable to receive medication during the initial stages of the outbreak. He said this incident would not have occurred had he received the medication and therapy for his depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The defendant is now taking medication for the disorders.

“Being locked up is not helping me,” Cowser said, adding that he was the “victim.”

Judge Ronna Beck placed a nominal bond of $10 on Cowser, 40, so he will receive credit for his jail time. Cowser’s next hearing is scheduled for June 25.

Judge Discharges Hearing for Defendant on Probation

A 36-year-old man on probation with a conviction of a sexual abuse was discharged because of his effort to attend his hearing on June 17.

Jermale McKnight was placed on probation in March with significant conditions, including a mental health screening and possible treatment, drug testing and possible treatment, alcohol testing and possible treatment, sex offender counseling and a stay away order.

DC Superior Court Judge Sean Staples noted that McKnight appeared in court and asked the probation officer if he was willing to continue working with McKnight.

According to McKnight’s probation officer, McKnight has not had contact with him since April.

It was also unclear if McKnight is homeless or not.

McKnight’s attorney, Lauckland Nicholas, argued that McKnight was homeless and that the issues of non-compliance have arisen out of possible mental health issues.

However, McKnight’s probation officer said the defendant is not homeless.

The probation officer agreed to continue working with McKnight and Judge Staples discharged the hearing with a warning to McKnight that he must check-in with his probation officer.

McKnight was held on an outstanding arrest warrant.

Defendant Gets No Jail Time, for ‘Out of Character’ Crime

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a domestic violence defendant after he reached a plea agreement with the prosecution.

Paul Harrington pleaded guilty to simple assault, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon and attempted threats to do bodily harm.

Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced Harrington to 2 months in confinement. However, she suspended the sentence, ordering him to serve nine months of supervised probation.

“It was out of my character, and I’m very remorseful,” Harrington said.

Harrington also received a stay away order and is required to complete a 12 week anger managment class, which will be conducted online. He will also have to pay $150 to the Victims of Violent Crime Act fund.

Harrington is employed and has no criminal history. Both the prosecution and the defense agreed that his crime was out of character.

Judge Issues Warrant for No-Show Defendant

A man, charged with second-degree theft and unlawful entry for allegedly stealing merchandise from a Harris Teete, has continued to violate his home confinement.

In February of this year, Barrington Blake was barred from entering the same Harris Teeter located at 1201 First Street,. NE.

Blake was scheduled to show up in court for a hearing on June 16, but he did not appear.

Due to Blake’s absence in court and continued violation of home confinement, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Sean Staples issued a no bond bench warrant for Blake’s arrest.

In March, Blake was placed under the high intensity supervision program (HISP).

Judge Vacates Pretrial Hearing for Defendant On HISP

A defendant was scheduled for a pretrial show cause hearing for noncompliance with release conditions. But, it was discovered that his GPS device was malfunctioning.

Drayvin Wilson is charged with assault with intent to commit robbery while armed. Wilson allegedly tried to rob a man while he was playing with his dog in his own backyard, according to court documents.

Wilson has a stay away order from the victim.

However, Judge Judith Smith vacated the hearing when it was discovered that Wilson’s GPS device has been malfunctioning.

It is unclear why his GPS was malfunctioning, but Wilson has been given a new GPS device with two additional chargers.

Wilson is scheduled for a hearing on Aug. 7.

Judge Finds Probable Cause in Case of Assault on 2 Police Officers

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that there was probable cause in a case of an armed assault on two police officers.

On May 27, the owner of a parking lot on the 600 block of T Street, NW, flagged down a Metropolitan Police Department officer. The man told the officer that a woman, later identified as Rayneka Williamson, was trespassing on his property, according to court documents.

The officer attempted to tell Williamson to leave the scene.

When she refused, the officer stepped away to ask the parking lot owner for his ownership papers. Court documents said the officer said Williamson began “aggressively approaching” and ignored his commands to stand back.

The officer tried to place Williamson in handcuffs and, somehow, she ended up on the ground, according to counsel. She then kicked the officer and another officer who responded to the scene.

Williamson bit and kicked both officers multiple times.

The officer later found out that Williamson was infected with syphilis and herpes at the time of the incident.

The prosecutor only called one witness, a third officer who had arrived to find the defendant already on the ground. The witness defended the actions of the officers involved in the incident.

Judge Judith Pipe said that, while the witness did not recall every detail of the incident, her account sufficiently established probable cause. She also held up a previous decision to hold Williamson in preventive detention without bail in order to ensure the community’s safety.

“What is particularly concerning is [the weapon] is not something that we could order her not to be in possession of,” Judge Pipe said.

Williamson’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 6.

Document: Police Arrest Suspect in Connection with 3 Armed Robberies

On June 16, detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a suspect in connection with three armed robberies.

Joshua Jamison, a 35-year-old resident of Southeast DC, allegedly robbed an establishment and stole a carjacking using a weapon. The crimes occurred in Northeast, DC on June 4 and 5.

The first incident occurred at approximately 4:42 p.m.on the 4800 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE. The second occurred later that evening at about 11 p.m. on the 4000 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

During both of these incidents, the suspect brandished a handgun, demanding money from the register at the establishment. Both times the victim complied and the suspect fled the scene.

The third incident occurred at around 2:15 p.m. the following day on the 4200 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. The suspect stole a victim’s vehicle and fled the scene in it.

Jamison was released on March 27 of this year after serving time in prison for attempted robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. As a part of that sentence, Jamison also had to complete three years of supervised release.

Jamison has been charged with one charge of fugitive from justice, to which he has pleaded not guilty. His next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17.

Judge Rules Defendant’s Probation has been Fulfilled

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a defendant has completed the terms of his probation despite protests from the man he assaulted two years ago.

Creighton Hammond was charged with simple assault in January 2018 after an altercation with a victim involving, according to court documents, a property dispute. Hammond was sentenced that March to four months in jail and two years of probation.

The conditions of Hammond’s probation stated that he must complete anger management classes and stay at least 12 feet away from the man he assaulted.

The hearing on June 17 was the culmination of a series of motions Hammond’s victim filed this year.

In both March and April, he told the court that Hammond repeatedly violated the terms of his probation by inflicting destruction to his property and “stalking” him. He said that he has video evidence of Hammond’s behavior.

“I fail to understand why it is that you refuse to do anything about this individual,” he said. “I am still being attacked by this individual but just in a different way.”

Both Hammond’s probation officer and prosecutor said that, even with the video recording provided by the victim, Hammond had completed the terms of his probation. Hammond’s probation was set to expire in April.

Upon terminating Hammond’s probation, Judge Julie Becker told Douglas to pursue his case in civil court.

“It appears to me that everything that comes within the box of this criminal case has been resolved,” she said. “The probation has been complied with. So there is no reason to extend the case any further.”

Defendant Pleads Guilty to 2 Misdemeanor Offenses

A defendant pleaded guilty to destruction of property less than $1,000 and unlawful entry into private property on June 17.

Anthony Ellis previously pleaded not guilty to these charges on March 16.

Ellis and his defense attorney, Claudine Harrison, entered into a deferred sentencing agreement with the prosecution. The agreement requires Ellis to complete anger management counseling along with mental health, drug and alcohol assessments and treatment over the course of five months.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan accepted the agreement, telling Ellis that he must comply with the conditions and appear at future court dates. Judge Raffinan said failure to do so would result in a bench warrant.

Ellis is scheduled for sentencing with his co-defendant, Alonozo Coleman, on Nov. 17.

Crime Alerts: June 17

The Metropolitan Police Department dent out three crime alerts on June 17 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8p.m.

The most recent alert was sent at 4:24 p.m about a stabbing on the 1800 block of Gainesville Street, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspects.

An alert for a robbery was sent out at 11:58 a.m. The incident occurred on the 4400 block of Eads Street, NE. Police are looking for two black males. One suspect is wearing a yellow hoodie and blue jeans. The second suspect is wearing a white hoodie with multicolored sleeves and has twists in hair. The suspects are between the ages of 18-20. One of the suspects is believed to be armed with a handgun.

The suspects were last seen fleeing from the 4400 block of Eads Street, NE. The suspects are also connected to another robbery that police sent out an alert for at 10:20a.m. on the 4500 block of Eads Street, NE.

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Judge Releases All but One Defendant During Initial Hearing

District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Sean Staples released 15 defendants and held one during initial hearings at DC Superior Court on June 17.

The one defendant held, Terrell Brown, was charged contempt and a civil protection order violation in a domestic violence case.

The judge decided to hold Brown because he has four pending cases and he violated his stay away order in one of the cases.

According to the defense, Brown was actually sleeping on a chair outside the building and was not bothering the person he has been ordered to stay away from.

Judge Staples still found probable cause in the case, ordering Brown to be held in DC Jail until Aug. 7. He also ordered a mental exam for Brown.

A mental observation hearing is scheduled for June 25.

The judge also released three co-defendants in another matter. The defendants are charged with second-degree burglary for stealing from an Ace Hardware store in Northwest, DC. They are ordered to stay away from the 1200 block of Upshur Street, NW.

The prosecution requested holds for all three defendants, but Judge Staples said all three defendants have minor criminal histories. He said he did not find the defendants to be dangerous.

Another man was charged with simple assault and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon in a domestic violence case. The prosecution did not oppose the defendant’s release, so the judge released him.

Similarly, another defendant was charged with simple assault in a domestic violence case and the prosecution requested a no harassment order for the victim. The judge agreed and released him with the order.

One defendant, charged with carrying a pistol without a license and one count of contempt, was released because the judge argued that there was no indication that the defendant tried to use the weapon in the police report. He was released with a stay away order.

Two cases are pending for another defendant–one for assault of a police officer, one count of resisting arrest and one count of destruction of property which resulted from an altercation with a woman whom the defendant appears to know. The other case is for assault and obstruction of justice in a domestic violence case.

The prosecution mentioned that the defendant is on probation and in complete compliance. The judge released the man with a no harassment order and told him to call his probation officer within 24 hours of release.

One defendant was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, threats to do bodily harm and possession of a controlled substance for threatening another man with a knife at Union Station and a substance which tested positive for cocaine.

The prosecution was not opposed to a release of the defendant, so the judge released him with a stay away order.

The judge released a man charged with simple assault for allegedly striking an individual across the face. The prosecution simply asked for a stay away order for the individual that got struck.

Another defendant was charged with simple assault and a sexual abuse of a minor misdemeanor. The judge ordered a release with a stay away order from the young woman he allegedly abused.

Another defendant who was charged with assault in a domestic violence case was released. He was ordered to stay away from the person he allegedly assaulted and the 900 block of Taylor Street, NE.

A defendant who was charged with assaulting three persons with a metal pole was released.

The prosecution asked for him to be put under a curfew and receive drug testing but the judge dropped these conditions. Instead, he was ordered to stay away from 3500 Block of 16th St, NE and his alleged victims.

Another defendant was released on a $1500 bond. The judge ordered him to turn himself over to the state of Maryland.

The last release was defendant who was let out of jail with a no harassment order and a requirement to relinquish all firearms within 24 hours.

In addition to the initial hearings, Judge Staples also heard and dismissed ten extradition cases, all of whom were charged with being fugitives from justice. The cases are all closed now.

Defendant Will Not Have to Serve Time in Jail

A defendant who pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon will not spend any time behind bars.

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced Kaliq Thorne to six months in confinement. The time was suspended, but Thorne was put on six months of supervised release and six months of probation.

Thorne was sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act. He has no criminal history and has been compliant with his GPS monitoring requirements.

During the sentencing, Thorne apologized for his actions. “I want to do better for myself,” he said.

Thorne also expressed his intention to join the Navy.

As part of his probation terms, Thorne will have to either join the Navy or continue his education. He must also participate in the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency’s (CSOSA) Community Engagement and Achievement Center program, find a mentor and pay $150 to the Victims of Violent Crime Act fund.

This article was written Andrea Keckley

Judge Issues Warrant for Man on Probation

A man convicted of stealing merchandise from a Nike store failed to appear at his probation hearing on June 16.

Deshawn Jackson has been on probation with a stay away order from the store located on the 3000 block of M Street, NW, as well as instructions to obtain employment since August 2019.

He has also been under GPS monitoring and was required to resolve all outstanding warrants.

In September of 2019, Jackson was arrested for not reporting to his probation officer. He has not been in compliance with is probation ever since.

Judge Releases Defendant Charged with Assault Under HISP

A DC Superior Court judge released a defendant charged with assault with a dangerous weapon under the high intensity supervision program (HISP).

On May 11, Sa’quonda Smith allegedly swung a large knife multiple times at relatives. The incident resulted from a family disagreement when Smith, a resident of Baltimore, Md., was trying to pick up her three-year-old child from her mother-in-law. Smith was intoxicated at this time.

Defense attorney Winston Yallery-Arthur argued that the abrasions that resulted from the transgression were a result of attempted self-defense, not the attack itself.

But, the prosecution said it was a “miracle” the victims were not seriously injured.

Even though the victims said that they do not perceive Smith as a threat, the prosecutor said victims do not always have a clear perspective on their level of safety. The prosecutor said that Smith’s family’s love for her may have blurred their judgement.

Judge Ronna Beck released Smith with a stay-away order. She must maintain a 100-yard distance from the victims, their homes, and their jobs. She is also restricted from contacting them by any means.

The judge made one exception in the stay-away order. He allowed Smith to call her son on FaceTime. The child is currently under the functional custody of his paternal grandmother.

Smith successfully completed her two prior terms of probation in 2003 and 2010.

Smith is scheduled to appear in court again for another hearing on Sept. 28.

‘I’ve Completely Changed My Life,’ Defendant Says

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a woman convicted of robbery on July 17.

Aliyah Diggs pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. She was initially charged with robbery and attempted robbery for two incidents in May and October of 2019, respectively.

Judge Michael Ryan gave Diggs a six month in confinement. He suspended the time, which prevent her from needing to spend any time behind bars. He also sentenced her to one day (time suspended) of supervised release and 12 months of supervised probation.

As part of her probation, Diggs must get a mental health evaluation. She is also required to pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Act fund.

The defendant was sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act. The act would have only required community service, but Judge Ryan waved that requirement due to the circumstances with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The prosecution called Diggs a “respectful and intelligent young woman who has made a string of mistakes.”

“I completely changed my life around,” Diggs said. She told Judge Ryan that she is not the same person she was last year.

Judge Ryan said that if Diggs complies with the terms of her probation, he is willing to accept a motion to terminate the sentencing at six months.

“I wish you good luck, please do well,” he told her.

This article was written by Andrea Keckley

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