Prosecutor Has 7.5 Months to Obtain Grand Jury Indictment, Judge Says

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 20, 2019
Court | Homicides | Policy | Victims |

During a status hearing May 20, a DC Superior Court judge said the prosecution has about seven and a half months to indict a murder defendant.

Alton Rivers is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 68-year-old Anthony Anderson on the 3600 block of 14th Street, NW on July 27, 2018.

During the hearing, Judge Todd Edelman also acknowledged that Rivers, 55, successfully withdrew his guilty plea and was deemed competent to stand trial.

Given the fact that Rivers entered the plea agreement before a grand jury could return an indictment, the nine month indictment deadline will pick up where it left off, according to Judge Edelman.

According to Title 23 of the Code of the District of Columbia, the prosecution has nine months from the date the defendant was arrested to obtain a grand jury indictment. If they fail to obtain an indictment, the case could be dismissed.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Rivers entered into a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection Anderson’s death in September. However, Rivers later withdrew from the plea, saying that he believed he acted in self-defense.

According to DC Courts, Judge Judith Bartnoff granted Rivers’ motion to withdraw his guilty plea on May 15.

Rivers is scheduled for a felony status conference on Aug. 29.