A weapon possessions case was dismissed on Sept. 10 after all three defendants rejected a plea and DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean found the prosecution had violated their rights to due process.
James Matheny, 31, Jewan Mathis, 29, and Rashid Woods, 30, were all charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a pistol outside the home or business in connection to a non-fatal shooting incident and subsequent apartment raid that took place on the 2100 block of Mississippi Avenue, SE on Sept. 3, 2024.
Mathis was also indicted on possession of a prohibited weapon. Matheny was also indicted on assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and obstruction of justice. Woods was indicted on additional charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a rifle or shotgun, and simple assault.
On Sept. 9, the prosecution alerted the court they had extended plea offers to the defendants, which they would reject. The court was informed that the defense had already sent counter offers, which had been rejected by the prosecution.
Woods was asked to plead guilty in multiple cases to assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, carjacking, and use of an imitation firearm in exchange for the prosecution dismissing all other charges in two cases.
Matheny would be required to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit carjacking in exchange for the prosecution dismissing all other charges in two cases.
Mathis would be required to plead guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm, and after a brief indulgence the defense informed the court that he was seriously considering taking it. However, they had only been informed of the rejection of their counter offer that morning and thus said they needed more time to consider the deal.
Judge McLean agreed and dismissed the case based on the prosecution’s apparent failure to provide potentially excupatory evidence to the defense as well as a violation of Fourth Amendment protections against illegal search and seizure at one of the defendant’s apartments on Sept. 3, 2024.
The court sanctioned the prosecution with eight violations in all but didn’t rule out the possibility the case could be reopened.
The prosecution has thirty days to file a motion to reconsider.
No further dates have been set.
