Judge Sets Hearing to Review Murder Defendant’s Medical Treatment

A DC Superior Court judge set a status hearing to reevaluate the effectiveness of mental health and substance abuse treatment for a murder defendant.

According to court documents, Sean Maichael Baker called 911 after she allegedly stabbed Robert Leroi Wiggins on the 300 block of 37th Street, SE, in 2016. Baker, 35, faces charges of second-degree murder while armed and assault with the intent to kill. She is claiming self defense and is currently released on personal recognizance.

Even though Baker is subject to drug tests and treatment, Judge Judith Bartnoff expressed concerns June 15 that Baker voluntarily missed treatment and avoided drug tests.

John Fowler, Baker’s defense attorney, said she missed the tests on May 28 and June 8 because of health issues that were not specified. Fowler said Baker “frequently communicates” with her assigned social worker.

The effectiveness of Baker’s treatment is scheduled for review at her next status hearing on Oct 12.

Judge Accepts Murder Defendant’s Guilty Plea

After months of preparing for trial and maintaining his claim to innocence, a murder defendant pled guilty to second-degree murder while armed June 14.

Traveous Lamont Brown and Paul Swann are charged with allegedly shooting Adam Edwin Barker in 2016 on the 2000 block of Langston Place, SE. The murder allegedly happened after Barker, 21, testified in trial of the murder of Simwone K. Milstead, his uncle.

Brown, 28, and his counsel were prepared for a trial on June 14 but instead of moving forward Brown pled guilty to all his charges, including the murder of Barker. Brown could face from 25 to 40 years in prison. He will be required to serve an additional five years on supervised release.

It is not clear if Swann, Brown’s co-defendant, has also pled guilty. He is scheduled for a status hearing on June 15.

Brown is scheduled to appear in court July 27 for a status hearing.

Mental Competency Appeal Requires Key Witness

Defense counsel requests more time to find a key witness that would provide important information on a murder defendant’s mental health.

Defense attorney, Steven Kiersh, told Judge Motley he “has not yet found the witness,” and did not request the government’s assistance. Kiersh is instead applying for a writ to summon the witness to testify in court.

Rickey Pharr, murdered Angelo Jones after a dice game on the 5300 block of Dix Street, NE in 2010. According to court documents, a witness said Pharr, 34, said he recognized Jones, 31, as a government informant. After which, they said Pharr left to retrieve a gun.

A jury convicted Pharr in 2012 for first-degree murder while armed. DC Superior Court Judge Thomas Motley sentenced Pharr to 40 years in prison. Pharr’s co-defendant, Curtis Patterson, was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for obstruction of justice and gun possession.

Kiersh said he believes Pharr’s sentence was too harsh, given the possibility of his mental incompetency. However, the defendant was found competent June 14 to stand trial.

Pharr is scheduled for a status hearing on Oct. 5 and a post-disposition hearing on Oct.12.

16 Year Old Held Without Bond and Charged as an Adult

During an arraignment June 15, a judge charged a minor as an adult for the murder of a 43-year-old man.

Titus Iracks, 16, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Larry Harrell on the 1200 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE. Harrell was pronounced dead on the scene on June 13.

Iracks’ defense attorney ,Ronald Resetarits, argued that Iracks should be released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) based on his age and current status in school.

Deputy Presiding Magistrate Judge Errol Arthur said there was “more than probable cause” to hold Iracks. Furthermore, Judge Arthur said there was no possible combination of services that would protect the community.

Iracks is being held without bond.

The defendant is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 22.

Decedent’s Mother testifies in 2014 Murder Trial

The mother of a 2014 murder victim took the stand June 14 to testify about the hours leading up to her son’s death.

The defendant, Andre Joyner, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Jamie Washington to death on the 700 block of 18th Street, NE. Joyner, 27, is also charged with attempting to get rid of evidence from the night of the murder.

Washington’s mother, told the jury that, on the night her son was murdered, Joyner; Joyner’s girlfriend; and the girlfriend’s cousin questioned her about Washington’s whereabouts. During opening statements the prosecution said Joyner’s girlfriend believed Washington stole her laptop.

The mother told the prosecution that the girlfriend was angry, yelling and going “on and on and on” about the missing laptop.

Apparently, Joyner stood by the door while his girlfriend searched the apartment for the laptop.

The mother said, Joyner kept telling his girlfriend: “Don’t worry, I got this.”

The mother told the prosecution the phrase made her fear for her son’s safety. Washington was not in the apartment at the time.

“I said ‘are y’all going to do something to my son,” the mother told the jury. She said no one answered her question.

However, during cross-examination, Young agreed that Joyner could have said, “Don’t worry, I got this,” in an effort to calm his girlfriend down.

The trial is expected to resume on June 18.

Judge Denies Murder Defendant’s Release

During a hearing June 15, a DC Superior Court judge denied the release of a man who is charged with second-degree murder while armed.

Ricardo Boston allegedly shot Dante Coleman, 20, on the 3900 block of First Street, SE in 2017.

Judge Judith Bartnoff denied the defense’s request to place Boston, 23, under the High Intensity Supervision Program. Judge Bartnoff said she was not given any new information that would convince her that Boston was not a danger to society.

Boston is scheduled for another felony status conference on Aug. 10. His trial is scheduled for March 29, 2019.

Release Granted to Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge put a defendant, who was previously held for 21 months without bond, under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).

Sean Smith, charged with second-degree murder while armed, allegedly shot Matthew Walker on the 900 block of Eastern Avenue, NE in 2016. According to court documents, witnesses said Smith, 36, and Walker, 26, had a verbal altercation at a party. A gun, recovered at the time of arrest, contained Smith and Walker’s DNA.

Smith pleaded not guilty. Defense counsel told Judge Judith Bartnoff during a June 8 hearing that Walker pulled a gun on Smith and ultimately their client acted in self-defense.

The prosecution offered a plea deal, which would remove all of Smith’s charges except for unlawful possession of a firearm. The defense said the prosecution’s plea deal is still being considered.

Smith is scheduled for a status hearing on June 19.

Judge Postpones Hearing in Murder Case

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson postponed a murder defendant’s felony status conference from June 14 to June 19. The hearing was delayed to give attorneys more time to develop their cases.

Ashton Briscoe, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Kerrice Lewis, 23, on the 800 block of Adrian Street, SE. The incident occurred on Dec. 28, 2017.

Requests to delay the case have occurred before. A preliminary hearing scheduled on March 9 was delayed to March 30 to give counsel more time to prepare their arguments.

Police Release Name of Man Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting

During a press conference June 13, Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Peter Newsham discussed the details of a police-involved shooting that left one man dead.

According to Newsham, on June 12 two uniformed patrol officers entered an alley and approached a group of individuals on the 3700 block of First Street, SE. Upon seeing the officers, the individuals fled and the officers pursued them.

During the chase one of the individuals, Marqueese Alston, opened fire. Newsham said the officers opened fire in an effort to “save their lives.” Alston was pronounced dead on the scene.

The police chief said Alston, 22, used an illegal semi-automatic gun. Apparently, Alston also had an extended magazine with ammunition. Furthermore, Newsham said Alston was wearing a court-ordered Global Positioning System (GPS), which tracked his movement. Alston wore the GPS device because it was part of his 2016 sentence for a carjacking.

When asked about feelings of mistrust for the police in the community, Newsham said the “overwhelming majority” of the community is “very trusting” of the police. Even so, the department works to gain trust by focusing on accuracy and transparency.

The officers involved wore body cameras that were turned on. After reviewing the cameras, the Mayor’s office will decide if the video will be released to the public.

The two officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues, according to a press release.

Counsel Continue to Debate Murder Defendant’s Statements to Police

Counsel continued to debate the validity of a murder defendant’s statements while he was on morphine.

From June 11-12, attorneys argued about whether statements made by Willie Glover could be used despite the fact that Glover, 40, was recovering from surgery and on morphine when he made them. Counsel began arguing about the statements when defense filed a motion to suppress them on May 18.

Glover, 66-year-old Charles McRae and 38-year-old Joseph Barbour are charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing 50-year-old Lenard Wills at an apartment complex on the 700 block of 24th Street, NE on the evening of Dec. 21, 2015.

According to court documents, Glover checked himself into the Prince George’s County Hospital Center in Cheverly, Md. a few hours later. He told officers from the Prince George’s Police Department (PGPD) that an unknown male mugged and stabbed him in Seat Pleasant, Md.

During a motion hearing, counsel and the judge questioned several witnesses as to whether Glover could give statements to police while recovering from surgery. Witnesses included a nurse, detectives from PGPD and the Metropolitan Police Department; and a doctor.

A MPD detective testified that a nurse told him Glover was “stable… conscious and alert.” He said Glover agreed to an interview.

The prosecution said Glover eventually changed his story, admitting he was actually stabbed on the 700 block of 24th Street, NE. The prosecution also said medical records indicated Glover was alert.

“He was able to give coherent chronologies,” a prosecutor said. “He is familiar with the system. He’s familiar with being interviewed.”

To show the impact morphine had on his client, defense attorney Thomas Heslep relied on testimony from an emergency physician from Bethesda, Md.

“Morphine affects people differently…side effects include nausea, headache, drowsiness…some people become confused…it runs the gamut,” the physician said.

During a hearing on May 18, the defense said Glover’s state of mind during the interview made his statement about the homicide involuntary.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe is expected to present an opinion on the matter before the trial begins. Jury selection for the case is scheduled for June 14.

Document: Homicide on Eastern Avenue NE

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred on the 400 block of Eastern Avenue, NE.

On June 8, the police found Jamaal Nathaniel Chase, 41, in a residence unconscious. Chase died at a local hospital. A second victim sustained non-life threatening injuries.

The police are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Defense Shifts Blame to Defendant’s Ex-Girlfriend

During opening statements in a 2014 murder trial, the defense said their client was innocent and that the real killer was one of the prosecution’s witnesses.

Andre Joyner is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Jamie Washington on the 700 block of 18th Street, NE in 2014. Joyner, 27, is also charged with allegedly destroying the clothes he was wearing on the night of the murder.

According to the prosecution’s theory, the fatal stabbing stemmed from a hunt for a stolen laptop. Apparently, Joyner’s girlfriend at the time returned home from work and found her laptop missing. After talking with her cousin, Joyner’s girlfriend suspected Washington, who was in her apartment earlier that day, took her laptop.

Joyner and his girlfriend then searched for Washington and eventually found him in an alleyway. The prosecution says Joyner stabbed Washington, 31, in the alleyway with a kitchen knife.

In the defense’s opening statements, Kevin Mosley refuted the prosecution’s theory and said they lacked evidence. Mosley said that neither Joyner nor Washington’s DNA was on the murder weapon.

Furthermore, Mosley pointed out that Joyner’s girlfriend had been drinking throughout the day. Mosley said the girlfriend, fueled by anger from her stolen laptop along with her level of intoxication “snapped” and killed Washington.

Joyner’s girlfriend pled guilty to being an accessory to Washington’s murder. As part of a plea agreement, she agreed to testify.

The trial is scheduled to continue on June 14.

Judge Rules to Separate Homicide Evidence Before Trial

Less than a day before the start of a 2014 murder trial, a judge ruled to separate evidence used to create a timeline relating to the stabbing death of Jamie Washington.

Andre Joyner, 27, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Washington, 31, on the 700 block of 18th Street, NE in 2014.

To create the timeline, the prosecution used surveillance footage from a nearby liquor store and telephone records from a woman who was near the crime scene during the time of the murder.

Kevin Mosley, Joyner’s defense attorney, argued that the “manufactured” timeline was “misleading.” Mosley said the video timestamp doesn’t necessarily align with the timestamp on the phone records.

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff said she was concerned the discrepancy between the timestamps from the video and phone records could lead to an inaccurate depiction of the order of events. She ruled that the prosecution could create a timeline based on the telephone records. Judge Bartnoff said the prosecution could create another timeline using the surveillance footage but the two could not be introduced into evidence together.

Judge Bartnoff said she would instruct the jury about the potential time discrepancy between the video and the phone records.

Joyner is scheduled to stand trial June 13.

Murder Case Continues for Counsel to Review Evidence

A homicide hearing is continued to allow the prosecution to review new pieces of evidence.

Jose Luzunaris appeared in court June 12 for a felony status conference, where counsel exchanged evidence and information about the death of Gregory Monroe.

Luzunaris, 53, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing 56-year-old Monroe on Feb 3, 2018, at the Judiciary House Apartments on the 400 block of H Street, NW. According to court documents, the victim suffered from stab wounds to the side of his neck and right ear.

During the hearing, defense counsel said they wanted to bring in new evidence. However, the prosecution needs to review it. To give the prosecution additional time to review the evidence, the defense requested the hearing continue after 60 days.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe scheduled the hearing to continue on Aug 24.

Defense Requests Continuance to Analyze DNA

A defense attorney for a convicted murder said he wanted to conduct further DNA testing to exonerate his client.

In 2012, a jury found Keith Littlepage guilty of stabbing Selina Knight on the 3000 block of Nelson Pl., NE. Littlepage, 56, received a sentence of 50 years in prison. Before his appeal, Littlepage served time at the United States Penitentiary in McCreary, Kent. He is currently being held at the D.C. Jail. Littlepage is scheduled for release on Nov. 2, 2054. After his prison sentence, he is also required to serve five years on supervised release.

Keith Littlepage received 50 years for killing Selina Knight (pictured) in 2011.

Homicide Watch reported that the murder was committed out of retribution after the decedent tried to end their relationship.

Littlepage’s defense attorney,Doresey Jones, said he is waiting on DNA analysis from the crime scene. He said partial results were inconclusive, so additional tests are needed. Jones said he expects the testing would be completed by July 11.

DC Superior Court Judge Thomas Motley told the defense to explain how the results of the testing would affect a retrial.

A status hearing is scheduled on Sept. 25.

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