Defense Asks for Identity of Key Witness in Murder Case

Defense counsel asked the prosecution to unvail the identity of a key witness in a murder.

Delonta Daniel is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Bernard Jarvis on the 2400 block of 14th Street, NE on June 28. Jarvis died on the scene.

Kristin McGough, Daniel’s defense attorney, said she has been waiting nearly a month for the prosecution to send her the information. McGough said she filed a motion for the information in July.

The defense insisted on a timely release of the name of the witness due to the fact that Daniel was being held in jail. A protective order, restricting McGough from sharing the witness’s information with the defendant or any one else on her team, was granted in July.

Apparently, the witness told the police that the shooter was another individual completely unrelated to Daniel. The witness never gave the police Daniel’s name, either.

D.C. Witness previously reported that the same witness told a Metropolitan Police Department detective that the suspect was a heavy-set black man.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson said the identity of the witness is central to the trial. However, she added that she understands, due to the dangerous nature of releasing a witness’s identity, the prosecution’s decision to hand it over can take longer.

Judge Dayson ruled that the prosecution should present a decision to the defense within the next two weeks.

A felony status conference is scheduled on Sept. 25.

Judge Grants Defense’s Request for Witness’s Information

A DC Superior Court judge granted the defense’s motion for a witness’s identification on Sept. 10.

Demetrius Pierce, also known as Orlando Little, 32, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 68-year-old Nazir Ahmad on Nov. 3, 2018, on the 900 block of Brentwood Road, NE. Pierce is being held without bail.

Judge Todd Edelman granted the defense’s motion to gather identifying information for a witness that may be an alternative suspect in the crime.

However, the motion was granted in part with a protective order that will prevent defense counsel, Jeffrey D. Stein, from sharing the witness’s identity with Pierce. Stein may only share the name and birthdate of the witness with his co-counsel.

Stein discussed his reason for requesting the identifying information off the record.

Pierce is being linked to the crime by a red baseball cap that was found in an area near the crime scene, containing his DNA.

Pierce is scheduled for a status hearing on Jan. 31, 2020, where the defense will decide if independent DNA will be conducted.

Murder Defendant Receives 20-Year Sentence

A murder case finally closed two years after a jury found a defendant guilty of killing a woman in Southeast, DC.

Delonte Javon Wynn was found guilty of first-degree murder while armed on June 26, 2017, for murdering 46-year-old Darlene Marie Bryant on the 4300 block of Wheeler Road, SE on May 13, 2015.

During a sentencing hearing on Sept. 10, Wynn accepted a 20-year plea deal from the prosecution for second-degree murder while armed. The case has remained open since Wynn filed for a new trial after the jury’s verdict in 2017, according to DC Courts.

Wynn’s defense attorney, Gretchen Franklin, asked DC Superior Court Judge Zoe Bush to give Wynn a 14-year sentence because of all the good acts Wynn has done since he has been incarcerated.

“He is not the person he was when he killed,” Franklin said.

Judge Bush said a 20-year sentence was appropriate, considering the crime as well as the work Wynn has done while incarcerated.

Apparently, Wynn has helped the Metropolitan Police Department with more than ten criminal cases since he has been in jail, including homicides, cold cases and drug cases.

Wynn also completed several classes, including life skills, computer classes, drug classes, finance classes and was a lead speaker for a family course.

“There is no justification for what I did,” Wynn told the victim’s family. “If I could trade places with her I would. I’m deeply sorry that I did what I did.”

Wynn said he stabbed Bryant because she stole some of his belongings. He said he was very upset because he always had Bryant’s back in bad situations.

The victim’s family opted not to speak.

Wynn will receive credit for time served, according to DC Courts.

Murder Defendant Withdraws Guilty Plea, Receives New Counsel

During a status hearing on Sept. 10, a murder defendant withdrew his guilty plea and asked for new counsel.

Saeed Woodall pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in May. He was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of Deonta Farrar, 32, on the 4500 block of Quarles Street, NE in 2016.

According to court documents, Woodall, 26, had been trying to withdraw his plea on May 4. He was able to successfully file a motion to withdraw on Sept. 4, four months later.

Woodall’s defense counsel, Elizabeth Weller, also withdrew from the case, saying there could be an appearance of conflict if she represented the defendant any further. Weller did not specify what she meant by her statement.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe accepted Woodall’s change of plea and appointed Michael Madden as his new defense counsel. Madden was not present at the hearing.

This is the second time Woodall has been appointed new counsel, according to DC Courts.

An ascertainment of counsel hearing is scheduled on Sept. 23 to verify if Madden can represent Woodall.

Woodall is being held without bail.

Document: 16-Year-Old Murdered in Ward 8

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Sept. 10.

According to a press release, officers heard gunshots and responded to the scene to find 16-year-old Steffen Brathwaite suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 3000 block of 24th Place, SE. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

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 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.

Insanity Plea Is Questionable, Prosecution Says

A prosecutor requested Sept. 6 another status hearing to determine the validity of the defense’s motion for an insanity plea.

Malcolm Cunningham, 24, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and two counts of burglary of a senior citizen for his alleged involvement in the murder of 79-year-old David Norwood on the 600 block of C Street, NE on April 16, 2017.

On March 22, 2018, Cunningham entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

The prosecution filed April 4 a motion to send grand jury paperwork to the District of Columbia’s Department of Behavioral Health. The prosecution also appointed experts based on the defense’s motion to examine the defendant for criminal responsibility.

“Two witnesses said the defendant was insane at the time of the crime but according to our experts Mr. Cunningham was sane during the crime,” a prosecutor told the court.

A status hearing is set on Sept. 19 to discuss what the prosecution’s experts have discovered.

The prosecution also offered Cunningham a plea deal for second-degree murder on Sept. 6. According to the terms of the deal, the defendant would serve 12-24 years. The deal would drop Cunningham’s burglary charges.

The prosecution offered Cunningham the same plea deal in 2018. He rejected the deal last November.

According to the District of Columbia’s voluntary sentencing guidelines, a murder defendant who has a criminal history score between 0-0.5, could serve between 30-60 years in prison if convicted of just first-degree murder while armed.

Murder Defendant Pleads Guilty

On Sept. 9, a murder defendant pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Timothy Gibson, 28, was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed for his role in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Carl Day-Baker on the 1500 block of T Street, SE on Sept. 1, 2018.

Gibson was initially scheduled to begin trial on Sept. 9, but the trial was vacated in light of the plea.

Defense counsel, Eugene Ohm, told the judge that he and the prosecution agreed on a sentence of 9.5 years.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya A. Dayson accepted Gibson’s guilty plea, but she reminded Gibson that she could reject it at a later date.

According to the District of Columbia’s voluntary sentencing guidelines, a defendant with a criminal history score between 0 and 1.5, who is charged with voluntary manslaughter while armed could face a prison term between 7.5 years to 15 years. A first-degree murder while armed charges holds a voluntary sentencing span between 30 years-60 years in prison under the same score.

Gibson is scheduling for sentencing on Nov. 22.

Judge Rules Murder Under DC Jurisdiction

A judge ruled Sept. 9 that a homicide occurred in the District of Columbia instead of Maryland.

Terrance Barnes, who is also known as Michael Barnes, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Barry Holmes, 57, on the the 5100 block of Southern Avenue, SE near the border of DC and Maryland in April.

On July 31, Barnes’s defense attorney, Jefferey Stein, submitted a motion of dismissal for lack of jurisdiction.

Stein said the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to prove whether the final shot was fired in the District or Maryland. Apparently, the street the incident occurred on is split by the border.

A witness said “the shooter ran up Heath Street, which is located in Maryland,” Stein told the judge. Apparently, witnesses of the alleged crime said they heard shots and saw the victim on the ground within DC city limits.

However, to prove the incident occurred in DC, a prosecutor said Holmes suffered from muzzle burns on his chest. The burns could only be inflicted by a close range shot, the prosecutor said.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe denied the defense’s motion for dismissal for lack of jurisdiction. He said his decision was based on the accounts of several witnesses as well as the burns on the victim’s chest.

A felony status conference is scheduled on Jan. 17.

Judge Finds Probable Cause, Holds Murder Defendant

On Sept. 9, a DC Superior Court judge decided there was probable cause a murder defendant shot a man earlier this summer. She ruled that he should be held without bail.

Keandre Barber is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 29-year-old Juan Marcell Grant on the 700 block of Princeton Place, NW on June 19.

Even though Judge Dana Dayson said the evidence presented by the prosecution pointed to more probabilities than actual certainties, she said video from the alley places Barber at the scene of the crime when it took place.

On the video, Barber,19, is seen with the victim and another person. The other person and Barber seem appear to be leading Grant in the video, the judge said.

Video and GPS evidence place Barber closer to the crime scene than the other person, so it is more likely that Barber shot and killed the victim, the judge said.

The preliminary hearing was initially scheduled on Sept. 6, however Judge Dayson continued the hearing because she needed more time to mull over the evidence.

Defense attorney, Mani Golzari said there was a need for the prosecution to identify the specific evidence that identified Barber as the shooter.

Golzari said there is more than one entrance and exit to the alley where the shooting occurred, leaving the possibility for a different shooter. Video footage of the defendant does not show intent to kill Grant, it also shows Barber and the other person leaving the alley from different directions.

Even so, the prosecution said the video indicates that Barber aided and abetted the other person in the pursuit of the victim.

The prosecutor also said the defendant admitted to knocking out the victim the day prior to the murder.

After finding probable cause, Judge Dayson also refused to release Barber to a halfway house, citing his prior firearms possession conviction. According to DC Courts, Barber was convicted of possession in March.

He is scheduled for a felony status conference on Oct. 3.

Judge Sentences A Murder Defendant to 15 Years in Prison

A judge sentenced Sept. 6, a murder defendant to 15 years in prison after denying his motion to take back a plea.

In April, Ricardo Daquan Boston pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. He was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed, among other offenses, for his role in the shooting death of 20-year-old Dante Coleman on the 3900 block of First Street, SE in 2017. The plea stipulated a sentence range of between 10 and 15 years.

The very next day, defense attorney Dorsey Jones filed an appeal of the sentence with DC Superior Courts. According to the appeal, Jones reason for appeal was because DC Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman denied Boston’s motion to take back his plea.

Jones also requested a change of counsel.

The appeal was denied on Sept. 9 and Boston’s original 15 year sentence was reinstated, according to DC Courts.

Boston is also required to serve 5 additional years on supervised release after finishing his term in prison.

Judge Edelman recommended that Boston be sent to a facility that will allow him to have vocational training, anger management and drug treatment.

“If anyone thinks pictures are important, wait until that’s all you have left,” Coleman’s grandmother told DC Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman. Along with losing her grandson to violence, Coleman’s mother was also murdered. The date the victim’s mother was killed was not disclosed.

Boston maintained his defense that he shot Coleman after the victim attacked him and tried to take his gun. During the melee, Boston says he shot Coleman by accident and also shot himself in the arm.

“I do not believe your account,” Judge Edelman replied.

Judge Edelman said it didn’t make sense for Coleman to attack Boston when he knew he had a gun. Judge Edelman also said there was no evidence that Boston was ever shot.

Apparently, Boston flew to Texas and was arrested there. Authorities in Texas did not notice a bullet wound in Boston’s arm, the judge said.

Document: Third Homicide Occurs in Ward 7 within Five Days

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Sept. 7.

According to a press release, officers found 19-year-old DeAndre Person suffering from a gunshot wound on the 3600 block of Jay Street, NE. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Judge Sentences Woman to 7.5 Years in Prison for Killing Husband

On Sept. 6, to the dismay of the victim’s family and the prosecuting attorney, a woman was sentenced to less than a decade for killing her husband.

On March 28, a jury found Dianna Lalchan guilty of voluntary manslaughter while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for shooting her 36-year-old husband, Christopher Lalchan, on the 1200 block of 4th Street, SW on March 28, 2013.

“Anything less than the maximum sentence would be allowing her to get away with murder,” the prosecutor told Judge Ronna Lee Beck as she requested the maximum sentence of 15 years for the 34 year-old. Dianna was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison.

Christopher’s family also shared the prosecutor’s sentiment, asking for the maximum sentence.

“I was privileged to travel 6,000 miles to see my son in a box,” Christopher’s father told the judge during his victim impact statement.

“She had no right to pull that trigger,” Christopher’s brother said.

Dianna’s family and friends also shared strong sentiments.

“This caring and empowering individual’s life is at stake today,” a friend of Dianna’s family told the judge.

Dianna’s defense attorney, Arthur Ago, told the court he believed his client was not a danger to society and “the court should not impose revenge on [Dianna] in this case.”

During the trial Dianna expressed love for her husband, she reiterated those sentiments when she addressed the judge during the sentencing.

“I live my life and will continue to live my life to honor Chris,” Dianna said.

Judge Sentences Murder Defendent to 8.5 Years in Prison for Voluntary Manslaughter

A murder defendent was sentenced Sept. 6 to 8.5 years in prision and five years on supervised release for killing a man in 2016.

Hakeem Jamal Burroughs pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for shooting Jarell Walker who on the 3700 block of Hayes St., NE on June 2, 2016. Walker died on June 6. Burroughs was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed, possision of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with the intent to kill while armed and unlawful possesion of firearm with a prior conviction.

“The defendant got an incredibly generous plea offer because of a no snitch policy,” the prosecution said. Apparently, the other men involved in the case would not testify against Borroughs.

As part of his plea deal Burroughs gun possession and assault charges were dropped.

The prosecutor said two armed men got in an argument with Walker. While the victim was walking away, Burroughs shot him in the back three times.

“We don’t think eight and a half years is enough, but we will agree to it,” the prosecution said.

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet Mckenna said Burroughs, 24, “has a tremendous amount of potential.” Judge McKenna said she hopes he “will come back with a commitment to making the community better.”

Defense attorney, Dominique Winters, referred to Burroughs as “ one of my favorite clients, a sweetheart.” She said he expressed an interest in keeping in contact with her after the trial was over.

The defense asked Judge Mckenna to suggest Borroughs be placed in Allenwood Prison, located in Pennsylvania, in order to be closer to his family.

The prosecutor said the victim’s grandmother found the sentencing “too stressful to come”. Family members for both the victim and Burroughs did not attend the sentencing.

Murder Defendants Reject Plea Offers

During a status hearing Sept. 6, two murder defendants rejected plea offers.

Stephon Evans, 18, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, and 19-year-old Kewon Hunter is charged with second-degree murder while armed for their alleged involvement in the shooting of 21-year-old Dion Boyd. The incident occurred on the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue, NE on July 30, 2018.

The prosecution offered Evans a plea deal for first degree murder while armed. Hunter was offered a plea deal for second-degree murder while armed.

A jury trial has been scheduled on March 22, 2020.

The next status hearing is scheduled on Nov. 8.

Judge Denies Murder Defendant’s Request for Counsel Change

A murder defendent said Sept. 6 his defense attorney was not giving him effective counsel. However, a judge disagreed.

Chad Everette Hawthorne is charged with the first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of 35-year-old Antonio Bassett on the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Ave., SE on May 22, 2017.

On Sept. 6, after speaking wit the 36-year-old defendant and his attorney about the issues at the bench, DC Superior Court Judge Juliet Mckenna ruled that Kiersh and the investigator followed through on all of their duties.

She said Kiersh had kept Hawthorne fully informed.

Apparently, Hawthorne had concerns that his lawyer was not trying to locate witnesses. Hawthorne filed for ineffective assistance of counsel on Aug 8. He sent a letter containing his concerns with his attorney, Steven Kiersh, to the judge.

Judge Mckenna said she looked at the investigative voucher and was informed by Kiersh about the actions the investigator had taken to find witnesses.

Kiersh will remain Hawthorne’s defense attorney moving forward.

Hawthorne is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on Sept. 20.

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