Prosecutors extended a homicide defendant’s plea deal for two weeks in front of DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on June 27. Read more »

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied June 21 the release of two co-defendants who were allegedly involved in a shoot-out with individuals in a Chevy Cruze near Dunmore High School.  Azhari Graves, 18, is charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.  Saki Frost, 17, faces the same charges plus two counts of assault with intent to commit any other offense while armed and two additional counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.  Frost and Graves allegedly fired shots at the Chevy Cruze on May 3. Read more »

A homicide defendant’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss his client's case, citing the prosecution’s failure to disclose evidence that could be favorable to the defendant in a June 20 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan.  Antonio Jackson, 38, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or place of business, for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Maria Evans, 59, on the 500 block of Oakwood Street, SE on March 29, 2018.  According to court documents, the stabbing was not covered on camera. Read more »

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan postponed the sentencing of two murder co-defendants who refused to get off the van. Read more »

A homicide defendant’s "pro se" motions to remove DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan, the prosecution, and his defense attorney from his case, claiming they are conspiring to commit “fraud on the court,” was discussed in a June 14 hearing.  Pro se means an individual is acting as his own attorney. Read more »

Daquan Gray waived his right to independently test DNA evidence before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on June 11.  Gray, 22, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside of his home or business for his alleged involvement in the murder of 15-year-old Jaylyn Wheeler, on the 600 block of Alabama Avenue, SE, on May 16, 2018.  According to the prosecution, the police found multiple items at the scene of the crime that were recovered as evidence, including a firearm, which was tested by the prosecution.  Items they did not test included a white tank top, black shirt, and red and black Tommy Hilfiger jacket that all contained blood. Read more »

Defense attorneys representing a mother and son duo, alleged to have perpetrated a homicide, filed a motion to sever their cases before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan during a June 7 hearing.  Jaquell Jackson, 20, and Chakeatia Jackson, 39, are charged with second-degree murder while armed for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Tarshaqua Chappell on Sept. Read more »

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced a stabbing defendant to seven years of incarceration in connection to an assault aboard a Metro train, on June 7.  Michael Harrington, 43, was originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, for his involvement in a non-fatal stabbing aboard a Metro train at the Navy Yard Station on the 1200 block of Half Street, SE, on Sept. Read more »

A homicide defendant voluntarily waived his right to independently test DNA evidence recovered from a crime scene in front of DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on June 5.  Vann Allen, 35, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on Nov. Read more »

Jaleil Jones pleaded not guilty in front of DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan in a felony arraignment on June 3.  Jones, 19, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, robbery and two counts of possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting and robbery of 44-year-old Robert Lavender. Read more »

Both Shana Donahue’s step-mother and father addressed DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan with an “ethics complaint” in regard to poor communication between the prosecution and Donahue’s family in a homicide case.  The victim’s family claimed the prosecution disregarded their wishes, as a homicide defendant pleaded guilty before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on May 29.  Daniel Fleetwood, 28, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the death of 26-year-old Shana Donahue on May 28, 2020, on the 2900 block of N Street, SE.  According to court documents, Fleetwood and Donahue were involved in a romantic relationship.  On May 29, Fleetwood accepted a plea deal, which required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed, in exchange for a dismissal of the first-degree murder charge. Read more »

Video evidence was presented before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan in a co-defendants non-fatal shooting in a May 28 hearing. Read more »

Parties in a 2018 homicide case argued whether a defendant’s new sentence should be served concurrently or consecutively to a previously imposed penalty before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan, in a May 28 hearing.   Bernard McKinney, 23, was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed while committing a robbery, robbery while armed, assault with intent to commit robbery while armed, attempt to commit robbery while armed, and four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a robbery on June 12, 2018 on the 300 block of 50th Street, NE. Read more »

A non-fatal shooting suspect rejected a prosecution plea offer, but in the same hearing on May 14 was granted modified release terms.  Vann Allen, 25, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence,for his alleged involvement in a shooting incident on the 1400 block of Okie Street, NE, on Nov. Read more »

A homicide defendant’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss the case, or reopen the preliminary hearing, based on a witness recanting statements to police, before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan.  Prashawn Brady, 31, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for her alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 44-year-old Michael James Quanders Jr. Read more »