A preliminary hearing of the evidence was rescheduled for a five co-defendant jail fight case when only two defendants appeared in DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt’s courtroom on July 9.
Malik Terrell, 24, Kuron Scutchings, 29, Davon Whitaker, 35, Elijahwon Watts, 29, and Nyasar Childs, 28, are all charged for their alleged involvement in a fight among a dozen individuals at the DC Jail, on the 1900 block of D Street, SE, on Jan. 24. Six of those involved were hospitalized for stab wounds.
Terrell and Scutchings are charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon. Whitaker is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and simple assault. Watts and Childs both face misdemeanor charges of simple assault.
According to court documents, weapons used in the brawl included improvised sharp objects and a wet floor sign. The five co-defendants reportedly attacked another group in the jail.
At the hearing, Judge Brandt reported that Watts refused to get off the bus at the courthouse. As a result, Scutchings and Whitaker were the only defendants present for the hearing.
Terrell was transferred to a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BoP) facility outside of DC, according to the prosecution. He will be returned to DC so proceedings can continue.
Judge Brandt called the events an “unwieldy situation that came with surprises.”
Shawn Sukumar, Childs’ attorney, and John Sample, Whitaker’s attorney, said their clients intend to waive their right to a preliminary hearing of the evidence against them. Judge Brandt said she wants to allow all five co-defendants the opportunity to attend the hearing regardless.
Sample said he argued for Whitaker’s release at a previous hearing, and Judge Brandt asked him to file a written request to pursue the matter further.
According to the prosecution, Whitaker was the only defendant who was on release after the fight and rearrested. The other defendants were still in jail. Watts and Childs have already been sentenced and are serving time for other unrelated charges.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 4.
