With the aid of an interpreter, a 51-year-old murder suspect declined his right to test DNA evidence in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on March 4.
The materials in question, according to the prosecutor, consisted of 52 items from a Toyota pick-up truck seized in Texas.
According to a release from the U.S.Attorney’s Office, Angel Monge, a Salvadoran, “was transported from El Salvador to the United States by members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, on October 18, 2024.”
Monge, also known as Alex Lobos and Alex Villalobos, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the stabbing of 49-year-old Matias Molina on Sept. 1, 2013 at the intersection of Beach Drive and Joyce Road, NW.
During a hearing last year, Monge’s then attorney, Joseph Yarbough, said that Monge was asserting his right to test prosecution evidence for DNA as stipulated by the Innocence Protection Act.
Given the language barrier Judge Ryan and Monge’s new attorney Kevin O’ Sullivan wanted to make sure the defendant understood the rights he was abandoning by his decision. In fact, Judge Ryan called a brief recess for parties to discuss the issue.
Afterword, Judge Ryan said that Monge has ‘willingly and voluntarily” surrendered his rights to DNA testing.
Given that Monge’s is a cold case, DNA testimony will likely play a major role in the proceedings. “This is not the first time we’ve talked about it,”said the prosecutor who filed a motion against putting off the long delayed trial scheduled for October.
However, Judge Ryan pushed back the trial date to Aug. 20, 2027 “in deference to the new counsel’s position.”
According to court documents, Judge Ryan also ordered a mental observation hearing for Monge on March 12 to determine if he has the mental capacity to stand trial.
