Each Friday, Homicide Watch brings you a list of upcoming hearings in the cases we follow. All hearings are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted. To add an item to the listing, email homicidewatchdc [at] gmail.com. To see scheduled court hearings beyond next week, see our calendar.
On Wednesday, Damien Pannell is expected for sentencing with Judge Thomas Motley. Pannell, 30, pleaded guilty Oct. 14 to voluntary manslaughter in the stabbing death of Glenn Bailey, 46, of Northeast, Washington, D.C. Pannell testified in court that he was defending his girlfriend, who was being physically attacked by Bailey in a parking lot in Northeast, when he pushed her aside and stabbed Bailey on May 17.
Ricardo Mitchell is expected for a felony status conference at 11 a.m., with Judge Lee Satterfield. Mitchell, 32, of Temple Hills, Md., is suspected of first-degree murder in the Aug. 24 fatal shooting of Wyatt Earp Robinson, 33, of Northeast, Washington, D.C. A Metropolitan Police Department officer, reported to be the girlfriend of Mitchell, allegedly witnessed the shooting on the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue NE. According to Police Chief Cathy Lanier, the officer is under investigation and could face criminal charges for lying to police about having witnessed the crime and for failing to take action during the incident.
On Thursday, DeAngelo Jose Garner is expected for a status hearing with Judge Ronna Beck. Garner, 25, of District Heights, Md., has pleaded innocent to first-degree murder charges in the August 2010 shooting death of Antonio Valdez Vela, 22, of Waldorf, Md. The shooting took place in the 4400 block of F Street SE. Garner also pleaded innocent to weapons charges connected with the case.
On Friday, Aaron Michael Adams is expected for a felony status conference with Judge Gerald Fisher. Adams, 25, of Northwest, Washington, D.C., is suspected of second-degree murder in the May 29 fatal stabbing of Garrett White, 25, of Northwest, outside the G-Spot Bar & Lounge on Georgia Avenue. When police responded to the scene, White, who was lying on the street, told officers Adams stabbed him. Fisher called White’s identification of Adams “weak” and released the defendant to a halfway house, a move that upset White’s family.
Antonio Jones is expected for a felony status conference with Judge Thomas Motley. Jones, 19, of Boyds, Md., is suspected of second-degree murder in the Oct. 15 shooting death of Davon Gray, 21, of Northeast, Washington, D.C. Jones’ defense attorney, Daniel Harn, questioned the sole eyewitness’ reliability because that person gave two different versions of the event that took place on the 2500 block of High Street SE. Prosecutor Emily Miller said that could be explained, and added that Jones has a history of mental illness when successfully arguing for his detention in a November hearing.
Claude Kinney is expected for sentencing with Judge Gerald Fisher. Kinney, 48, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the Sept. 13 fatal stabbing of his estranged wife, Alicia Wheeler, 42, of Northeast, Washington, D.C. Kinney stabbed Wheeler in front of her four children, three of whom she shared with Kinney, as the group was walking home from school. Wheeler had received a protection order against Kinney the day before he killed her. As part of the plea agreement, the government agreed to not seek a sentence of more than 30 years.
James Fields is expected for a felony status conference with Judge Ronna Beck. Fields, 31, also known as Jamal Mungo, is suspected of second-degree murder in the Aug. 5 shooting death of Christopher Emanuel Freeman. The shooting took place around 3 a.m., in an alley on the 300 block of 34th Street SE. Freeman’s friend, a witness who survived the shooting, identified Fields as the assailant. Fields’ attorney argued during an August hearing that darkness in the alley where the shooting occurred could have made it difficult for anyone to accurately identify someone.
John Bolton is expected for a status hearing with Judge Thomas Motley. Bolton, 49, of Southeast, Washington, D.C., has pleaded innocent to charges of first-degree murder in the May 25 fatal shooting of Christopher Fletcher, 41, also of Southeast. The incident took place at the corner of 34th and D Streets SE. Charging documents state that a disagreement between the two men started after Bolton arrived at a cookout, approached Fletcher, and “kissed at him as if he was a female.” Minutes later and a few blocks from the party, the two men were seen arguing before a witness says Bolton shot Fletcher.
Joshua Lawrence Andrews is expected for a felony status conference with Judge William Jackson. Andrews, 19, of Southeast, Washington, D.C., is suspected of second-degree murder in the June 2010 shooting death of Darond Lucas, 17, also of Southeast. The shooting took place at approximately 3 a.m., on the 1600 block of W Street, SE. Andrews has been held since his arrest in April 2011.
Karl Pugh is expected for a felony status conference with Judge Thomas Motley. Pugh, 30, of Southeast, Washington, D.C., is suspected of second-degree murder in the Sept. 20 shooting death of Quentin Ragland, 27, also of Southeast, on the 800 block of Southern Avenue, SE. According to court documents, the two men were smoking PCP together before getting into a fight and struggling for a gun. Pugh’s attorney argued he was acting in “complete self-defense” at the time of the shooting, but Judge Motley said Pugh could not claim to be acting in self-defense if he had already wrested the gun away from Ragland.
Lester James Wright is expected for a felony arraignment with Judge Ronna Beck. Wright, 21, is charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Howard Williams, 48, on the 300 block of 18th Place NE. According to charging documents, a domestic argument may have led to the incident. Williams, Wright, and Wright’s aunt all lived together in an apartment on 18th Place NE, and according to a witness, an argument between Wright and the two others in the house preceded the shooting.
Please remember that court dates can change, even at the last minute. To view the docket of a case please go to the D.C. Courts website and search by the defendant’s name.
