Murder Defendant Pleads Not Guilty to All Charges

During a felony arraignment Aug. 23, a murder defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges listed in his indictment.

Marquette Tibbs is charged with first-degree-murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in the death of Orlando Silver III on the 1300 block of Howard Rd., SE in 2016.

During the hearing, defense counsel, Maro Robbins, informed the court that he intended to file a motion to dismiss the indictment due to the prosecution withholding evidence about the case.

A status hearing was scheduled on Oct. 11 to settle the motion.

On March 19, DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman separated Tibbs case from 25-year-old Cinquan Cartledge‘s case. Both are charged with the murder.

According to Cartledge’s defense attorney, Carol Blume, Cartledge wanted to separate his trial from Tibbs, 26, so he could be a witness in Tibbs’ trial. Blume said Cartledge wanted to prove his friend’s innocence.

If Tibbs, wanted to do the same, Judge Edelman said he would have to give up his right against self-incrimination in order to testify for Cartledge.

Tibbs said he would testify for Cartledge even if he was found guilty during his trial. Judge Edelman said he would schedule Tibbs’ trial before Cartledge’s, which would allow Tibbs to reserve his right to testify in his own trial.

According to court documents, Tibbs and Cartledge were wearing GPS ankle monitors that placed them near the scene of Silver’s murder. Two witnesses identified Tibbs as the shooter shortly after witnessing the incident.

A police officer said he saw Tibbs throw a loaded pistol, which the prosecution said was the same gun used in Silver’s murder.

Tibbs trial is scheduled on Nov. 18.

Homeless Man Tells Police Devil Told Him to Kill

An arrest has been made in a homicide that occurred on the Frederick Douglass Bridge Aug. 22. The suspect was identified as a homeless man.

Lance Ammons, 42, was charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 62 year-old Robert Bolich earlier the same day.

According to the court documents, Ammons told detectives he heard the devil’s voice urging him to stab the bridge inspector. Ammons told police that he tried to ignore the voice. However, he repeatedly stabbed Bolich four times.

Bolich, a resident of Alexandria, Va., worked for HNTB Corp, an infrastructure design firm, as a senior environmental specialist and project manager. He was working on a major renovation of the bridge that carries South Capitol Street across the Potomac when Ammons approached him with a knife, The Washington Post reported.

Bolich tried running away after being stabbed, but collapsed a short distance away. When police arrived, Bolich was unconscious but still breathing.

According to police reports, Bolich was rushed to George Washington University Hospital. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner stated that the decedent suffered from four stab wounds, including two to the left chest, which struck the lung and heart, one in the left thigh and one to the right upper leg.

When police officers arrived at the crime scene, Ammons was across the bridge watching the nearby bikers try to save Bolich’s life. Ammons told police he regained control of his thoughts after the stabbing, according to police reports.

Evidence recovered from the scene includes a vest with blood stains, a notebook with blood stains and a bloody sketch book. Blood was located on a red Milwaukee Fastback knife with a silver blade which was located on the concrete barrier at the foot of the bridge closest to the street, according to police reports.

One witness, who was approximately 300 yards away from the crime, described the defendant as a black male with a bright blue shirt. The witness said the man was beating someone on the bridge, according to police reports. The witness could not see a weapon.

Another witness administered CPR until medics were on the scene. The witness identified the man across the bridge as the defendant. The witness said the defendant hit the victim in a stabbing manner. However, the witness did not see the defendant with a knife or book bag.

According to police reports, Ammons told police that after graduating high school, he completed one year of college and was briefly enrolled in the Army before moving to the District of Columbia. Ammons told police that he lives in a forest near the bridge and that he came to D.C. to prepare for the end of the world.

Ammons received a 90-day suspended sentence in 2007 for assaulting a police officer, according to NBC Washington.

NBC Washington also reported that, in 2011, Ammons was accused of assaulting a police officer and threatening bodily harm, but the charges were dismissed.

Court documents show that Ammons was arrested by U.S. Park Police in 2016 for “threatening to kidnap or cause bodily harm” to someone in front of the Organization of American States Building. There is no information available whether he was prosecuted for this crime or not.

Ammons is being held without bail until his next court hearing on Sept. 4.

Document: Homicide on 18th Street, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on the 3400 block of 18^th Street, SE.

According to a press release, police located 28 year-old Ronald Brown suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the night of Aug. 22. He died on the scene.

Police are offering a reward of 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 about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.

Document: Homicide on Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred on the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge.

According to a press release, officers located 62-year-old, Robert Bolich suffering from multiple stab wounds on Aug. 22. DC Fire and Emergency Services transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Later that day, police arrested 42-year-old Lance Ammons and charged him with first degree murder while armed.

Document: Homicide on K Street, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on the 100 block of K Street, SE.

According to a press release, officers located 48-year-old Berner Johnson suffering from signs consistent with an assault on May. 15. DC Fire and Emergency Services transported the victim to a local hospital. Berner succumbed to his injuries on May 19.

The DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as complications of blunt force injuries to the head with alcohol intoxication and ruled the manner of death a homicide.

Police are offering up to a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in Washington, 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.

Defense Attorney Asks to Withdraw from Murder Defendant’s Case

During a felony arraignment on Aug. 21, a defense attorney asked to withdraw from a case due to differences about how the case should be argued.

Tondrick Murphy, 29, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 26-year-old Marquis Jones on the 2000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE on Oct. 6, 2018.

Defense Counsel, Kevin McCants, said his client wanted him to argue that he killed Jones in self-defense, but McCants thought this was a poor strategy since Murphy was apparently on video shooting at Jones many times.

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman asked Murphy if he wanted a new lawyer, and Murphy said “yes”.

Judge Edelman agreed to appoint Murphy new counsel, and set a date for an ascertainment of counsel.

McCants also said Murphy rejected two plea offer in February and August.

Murphy has an ascertainment of counsel hearing scheduled on Sept. 6.

Defense Requests Judge Preclude Child’s Testimony

During a status hearing Aug. 22, defense counsel requested that a testimony of a child witness be precluded from upcoming proceedings.

James Embre, 26, is charged with felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children and second-degree cruelty to children for his alleged role in the death of 2-year-old Aceyson Aizim Ahmad on the 3400 block of A Street, SE in April of 2018. According to court documents, Embre was involved in a romantic relationship with Ahmad’s mother.

Defense counsel, Jonathan Zucker, argued that the witness, Ahmad’s sister, should be precluded from upcoming proceedings. Ahmad’s sister is the only eyewitness to the events leading up to Ahmad’s death besides Embre.

Defense counsel argued that her testimony is unreliable since she consistently changed her story. In a motion filed on Sept. 15, the defense said the distinction between the truth and a lie needs to be explained to the child because she did not understand the difference.

The defense also argues that her memory of events may have been distorted by suggestions made to her by prosecution staff. According to the defense’s motion, children are vulnerable to leading questions and suggestion.

The witness’s age was not specified in court documents.

The prosecution has not yet filed a response to the motion.

Embre is scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 28. He is set to begin trial on Sept. 4.

Document: Arrest Made in July Murder

The Metropolitan Police Department have made an arrest August 22 in connection to a homicide that occurred on Jul. 23.

According to a press release, officers arrested 32-year-old Andre Smith for his alleged role in the death of 23-year-old Delwaun Lyons, on the 3000 block of 30th Street, SE. Smith is charged with first degree murder while armed.

Judge Releases Murder Defendant Under Personal Recognizance

During a status hearing on Aug. 21, a murder defendant was released on personal recognizance.

Wilbert Whitaker, 70, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the shooting death of 30-year-old Leo Hackett on the 800 block of 21st Street, NE on May 2, 2016.

During the hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman accepted the defense’s motion to release Whitaker on personal recognizance.

Whitaker had previously been released to home confinement under the high intensity supervision program (HISP).

in early August, Whitaker’s defense attorney, Mani Golzari, filed a motion to amend Whitaker’s release conditions, citing that the defendant wanted to return to the area of the crime where his family stilled lived.

The prosecution responded on Aug. 21, stating that amending the conditions of release would affect the community’s safety.

According to DC Courts, the stay away order for the 800 block of 21 Street, NE will be lifted as soon as the prosecution sends an order to chambers for stay away orders for specific people.

Court documents state that the shooting occurred from a domestic disturbance. Apparently, Hackett was romantically involved with Whitaker’s child. Apparently Wilbert told his child, moments after the shooting, “He should gotten out my house. I told him to get out of my house.”

Whitaker is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on Jan. 21, 2020.

Defense Questions Witness’s Credibility After Failing To Identify Murder Defendant

During a preliminary hearing Aug. 21, a defense attorney questioned the reliability of a key witness who could not pick a murder defendant out of a photo line up.

Demetrius Void, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 24-year-old Anthony Daniel Lawson on the 6200 Block of Eastern Avenue, NE in September of 2018.

According to court documents, Void was at a Shell gas station earlier on the day of the murder when, on video, he pulled out a gun on his mother and took the keys to a car that was registered under his name.

Void then returned to the gas station later and allegedly killed Lawson after a verbal dispute.

Defense counsel, Matthew Davies, said, after questioning the lead detective from the case, that a key witness who saw the murder was not credible because the witness was unable to pick Void’s picture out of a photo lineup. Apparently, the witness only knew Void through his mother.

The defense said that Void only took the car from his mother because she had gotten an absurd amount of traffic tickets while driving the vehicle, but that does not mean he killed Lawson.

The prosecution argued that surveillance footage puts Void at the scene of the crime and that none of the witnesses had any bias towards Void, because they all knew him through his mother.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson said the witness was credible and reliable because multiple witnesses corroborated their account of what happened despite not being able to choose Void from a lineup.

Judge Dayson ruled that there was probable cause that Void committed the murder.

Void is being held without bail.

A status hearing is scheduled on Oct. 17.

9-1-1 Call Causes Listeners to Leave Courtroom

During a detention hearing on Aug. 20, a defense attorney played a recording of his client’s call to 9-1-1 operators, which caused people in the audience to leave the courtroom

Cornell Delvonte Holton,25, is charged with felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children for his alleged role in the death of his 3-month-old daughter, Skylar Newman, on the 4300 block of G Street, SE on April 19.

Defense counsel played the 9-1-1 call in order to demonstrate that the death of Newman may have been accidental.

On the recording, Holton is heard crying and screaming. He was instructed to perform CPR on Newman by the 9-1-1 operator and is heard doing so. Holton is also heard inviting police into his home.

While the recording was playing, listeners in the gallery began to leave.

After playing the recording, defense counsel requested that Cornell be released to a halfway house an have restrictions on his interactions with children.

The prosecution did not have any disputes against the call. However, the prosecutor said that the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined Newman’s injuries were not consistent with someone who fell down the stairs or an accident.

Five Federal Marshall were present during the hearing. After the recording was played, there was a loud commotion outside the courtroom, causing four of the Marshalls to exit the courtroom.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe denied the defense’s request. Cornell is being without bail.

Judge Iscoe said that Cornell missed several court dates in other jurisdictions, and there are no conditions of release that could guarantee his return to court or the community’s safety.

Cornell is scheduled for a status hearing on Oct. 11.

Prosecution Withdraws Objection on Trial Date

During a status hearing Aug. 21, the prosecution formally withdrew their objection to continue a trial date.

Deon Crowell, 50, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Joni Rockingham, 53, on the 300 block of 34th Street, NE on Dec. 12, 2017.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson scheduled an emergency hearing after the prosecution withdrew their objection to continue a trial date via email on Aug. 20.

D.C. Witness previously reported that defense counsel, Elizabeth Weller, motioned for a continued trial date because the prosecution had not turned over all the case’s documents, despite the trial being scheduled on Oct. 15.

Weller said she received some of the body camera footage but when she emailed the prosecution on Aug. 20, she got no response. Weller said the prosecution withdrew their objection to the continuance within an hour of her email.

Weller also motioned for Crowell’s release until the new trial date.

The prosecution, who said she was not well-versed on the case, asked the judge to table the issue until her co-counsel returned or until she could review the case.

Judge Dayson is expected to rule on Crowell’s release at a status hearing scheduled on Sept. 27.

The judge also asked for dates the prosecution would disclose case documents and reason for the timing of the disclosures to be ready for that hearing.

Judge Dayson scheduled a new trial date on Sept. 1, 2020.

Judge Holds Competent Murder Defendant at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital

During a preliminary hearing Aug. 21, a DC Superior Court judge denied the release of a murder defendant. The judge also order the defendant remain at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital even though he was found competent.

George Anderson, 21, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 24-year-old Devin Butler on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW on June 13.

Judge Todd E. Edelman previously ordered that Anderson’s competence be evaluated at St. Elizabeth’s on June 17.Judge Edelman said that Anderson needed to stay at St. Elizabeth’s to maintain his mental health.

According to a Metropolitan Police Department detective, Anderson is known to have visual and auditory hallucinations and does not take his prescribed medication.

Judge Edelman also said he found no conditions of release that could guarantee the community’s safety.

During the hearing, defense attorney Blase Kearney withdrew from Anderson’s case. Attorney Judith Pipe was appointed to represent the defendant. A reason for the change was not given in open court.

Anderson is scheduled for a felony status conference on Oct. 18.

Murder Defendant Still in Solitary Confinement After 3 Years, Defense Says

During a status hearing on Aug. 20, a defense attorney said her client has spent the last three years in solitary confinement.

Marcus Martin is charged with felony murder while armed, assault with intent to kill, conspiracy, attempted robbery and firearms offenses for his alleged role in the shooting death of 19-year-old Derryk Johnson on the 600 block of N Street, NW in 2016.

Defense attorney Dana Page told the judge that Martin has been in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day since his arrival at the DC Jail in August of 2016. She said the treatment amounted to torture and could raise constitutional issues.

The prosecution said they did not request Martin be held in solitary, only that he be separated from certain other inmates, whose identities were not stated on the record.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe said that he doesn’t have the authority to order the DC Jail to remove Martin from solitary unless it violated the Constitution.

Judge Iscoe then spoke to the attorneys off-the-record. It is not clear whether the issue was resolved.

Judge Iscoe previously ordered that Martin be released under the high intensity supervision program (HISP) on Aug. 13. The prosecution then filed a motion to reconsider.

During the hearing, Judge Iscoe reversed his decision, Martin is currently being held without bail.

Martin is scheduled for a status hearing on Nov. 22.

Judge Orders Mental Observation Hearing

During a felony status conference on Aug. 20, a judge ordered a murder defendant to undergo a 24-hour mental exam. A mental observation hearing is scheduled to follow the exam.

On July 15, officers arrested 31-year-old Alisa Randall for allegedly stabbing 59-year-old Ronald Jones on the 1300 block of Euclid Street, NW. She is charged with second-degree murder.

D.C. Witness previously reported on July 31, that Randall was removed from the courtroom for repeated interruptions during a court proceeding. It was not stated in court whether or not the mental examination is related to the interruptions.

Randall also verbally interrupted proceedings on Aug. 20 but, she was not removed from the courtroom.

Judge Iscoe approved taking a DNA sample from Randall, so it could be tested against DNA samples taken from the crime scene. Judge Iscoe also ordered that if the swabs did not match any DNA from the scene that it could not be stored in any database for use in other cases.

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