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By
Sophia DeThomas [former]
- January 18, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Sex Abuse
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Sexual Assault
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D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe decided Jan. 17 to continue a bench warrant release hearing for sex abuse defendant.
The defendant is charged with sex abuse and simple assault after allegedly following a woman, making sexual comments towards her, and grabbing her groin around the 12th and 13th blocks of Alabama Avenue, SE.
The defendant was ordered to return to court on Jan. 24 by Judge Pipe, as D.C. Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan, who initially issued the warrant, was not available Monday.
The defendant missed court several times between July 2021 and January 2023, as well as violating his probation. The warrant was issued by Judge Ryan on Jan. 10 when the defendant failed to appear to a probation show cause hearing. The defendant was first charged in this case in 2020.
He was initially found to be incompetent to stand trial on the basis of mental health in August 2021.
However, it was later discovered that the defendant was competent during February 2022.
He pleaded guilty to both charges and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which he has received credit for. The assault charge was ultimately dropped in the plea bargain.
The defendant was released on his promise to return to his next court date, as well as being required to check in with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA).