Sex Abuse Defendant Remains on Home Confinement in Virginia

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 23, 2020
Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge denied a request to take a sex abuse defendant who is receiving medical treatment in Virginia off of home confinement.

The defendant is charged with first-degree child sex abuse in a felony domestic violence case on Sept. 16, 2019. 

The defendant was placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP), and on home confinement three days later. However, due to the defendant’s medical condition, Judge Anita Josey-Herring adjusted the release conditions to allow him to be on home confinement at a hotel near his hospital in Fredericksburg, Va. 

During the Oct. 23 hearing, defense attorney Roderick Thompson asked Judge Josey-Herring to remove his client from home confinement, and place him in general supervision. 

Judge Josey-Herring immediately denied this request. 

“I don’t want to put other people at risk,” she said. “That is my primary concern.” 

Judge Josey-Herring went on to say that protections needed to be in place to lower the risk of the defendant reoffending, given the seriousness of the charge.

Thompson reiterated that the defendant is currently receiving chemotherapy for his medical condition, and that living in a hotel creates financial burden.

The prosecutor did not agree with Thompson’s request for his client’s removal from HISP. The prosecutor said that the defendant had allegedly violated his conditions of release, and had been warned in the past that if he did so he would be detained.

Judge Josey-Herring continued the hearing, as she did not have time to deliberate further on the matter.

 “While I do appreciate that he is not in good health, generally speaking…he is charged with first-degree sex abuse,” she said.  

She asked Thompson to file a written order with modified release conditions that would ensure the safety of the community, and she would consider the matter again at the following hearing.

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12.