Judge Kendra Briggs of the DC Superior Court dismissed a juvenile’s request on June 18 to be moved from the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to a shelter.
Three children, ages 12 and 13, are accused of second-degree murder, assault, and conspiracy in connection with the alleged beating death of 64-year-old Reggie Brown on October 17, 2023, in the 6200 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. The juvenile, a 13-year-old female, is one of the children facing these charges.
A detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) testified that Brown had no relationship with the minors and was physically disabled.
The minor’s defense lawyer, Howard Margulies, asked Judge Briggs to move the minor from DYRS incarceration to a shelter house, claiming the minor could flourish there.
Prosecutors, however, objected to the motion, claiming the minor had a “long history of running away from home,” skipping school, and failing to notify her parents of her whereabouts. They also said the minor “made decisions to not be where she needs to be.” The prosecution claims that for the past year, the girl’s parents had to submit many missing person reports to MPD.
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The youngster was not actively watched by her parents, according to the prosecution’s interpretation of the case’s facts. The juvenile and her co-defendants were out at strange hours on a school night when the incident occurred.
Margulies claimed that her disappearances were caused by a breakdown in communication between her parents, saying that “there is a different story to be told.”
He emphasized that it would help her demonstrate her ability to succeed in the community and remarked, “[She] needs the structure of a shelter house.”
The child was alone at home with two other minors, one of whom was a co-defendant, when someone broke in and shot her companion, the prosecution reminded the judge.
Judge Briggs rejected Margulie’s application despite her arguments, saying that “detention is required” to ensure her return to court and the safety of the community.
The parties are scheduled to meet again with the three co-defendants on July 12.
