‘You Can Ghost Other People, But You Can’t Ghost Me,’ Judge Tells Late Defendant 

By Namita Nair [former] , Hope Hamerslough [former] - July 12, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | stabbing | Suspects |

On July 11, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt granted a second chance for a defendant who violated his release conditions. 

Dennis James Bowler, 56, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on May 24 at his apartment on the 3000 block of Rodman Street, NW. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

Part of Bowler’s conditions included weekly contact with Pretrial Services (PSA) and drug testing. Along with the weekly contact Bowler was to seek mental health care and wear a GPS monitor. 

At the first call of his case Wednesday, Bowler was not in the courtroom. His attorney, Jason Clark told Judge Brandt that he did not know where his client was. Bowler had yet to make contact with PSA and Bowler’s GPS monitor was at dead battery status. 

Judge Brandt issued a bench warrant for Bowler arrest. 

Approximately 30 minutes later, Bowler entered the courtroom.

The defendant said he was late for his hearing due to not having enough money to purchase train fare. HE said he needed to take time to panhandle for the fare. 

During the hearing, Clark explained that Bowler had tried to get in contact with PSA but did not know their address. He said when Bowler tried calling, he received no response. Bowler claimed that when released from DC Jail he had not been given any paperwork that had PSA’s information. 

Both PSA and the prosecution suggested that release be revoked as Bowler not only failed to uphold the conditions of his release, but also did not try to get the information he was missing. 

Clark asked Judge Brandt to grant Bowler a second chance. He said he would take Bowler to drug testing within the courthouse and then to PSA to meet with his case worker after the hearing. 

After careful consideration, Judge Brandt told Bowler that “he could ghost other people, but he couldn’t ghost [her].” She continued Bowlers release with the understanding that Clark would be assisting Bowler in getting set up with PSA and that Bowler would follow his release conditions. 

In order to further ensure that Bowler would meet his release conditions, Judge Brandt scheduled another status hearing next week.  

Parties are slated to return for a status hearing on July 18.