A Washington D.C. magistrate judge, known for his support of progressive causes and donations to a George Soros-linked charity, has sparked controversy by releasing an 18-year-old man accused of firing an AR-15 rifle at a car.
18 year old sprays Washington DC neighborhood with 26 rounds from an AR-15. (He's shooting at a car with 4 people in it but misses.) DC judge frees suspect on bond. He's out right now. From @DailyMail: https://t.co/pl1mMuZNXd pic.twitter.com/m31kYsASI7
— Byron York (@ByronYork) May 14, 2024
Judge Lloyd U. Nolan Jr. granted bail to Armonte Moody and placed him under house arrest following an incident in April where Moody allegedly discharged 26 rounds from an assault rifle at a car carrying four individuals in a D.C. neighborhood.
An 18-year-old was just released on bail after spraying bullets from an AR-15 at a car full of people on Independence Avenue in Washington D.C. Here's why you haven't heard about this story: pic.twitter.com/rO9WKuJNle
— The Michael Knowles Show (@MKnowlesShow) May 15, 2024
Nolan Jr.’s history of promoting progressive causes on social media, including his backing of Gideon’s Promise, a charity dedicated to training public defenders, has drawn scrutiny. The organization, founded by Professor Jonathan Rapping in 2007, received a fellowship grant from Soros’ Open Society Foundation.
While the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. appealed Nolan Jr.’s decision, arguing that house arrest and GPS monitoring were insufficient to ensure community safety, a spokesperson for the D.C. Courts defended the judge’s diligence in considering the case and communicating the consequences of release conditions to the defendant.
Criticism of the decision has emerged from various quarters. Denise Krepp, a former Obama administration official, condemned the move as “insanity,” questioning the absence of mature judgment in the matter.
Moody’s pre-trial status hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, marking the next stage in a case that has sparked significant debate over judicial discretion and community safety.
A spokesperson for the D.C. court system noted in a statement that “all defendants have a presumption of innocence” — ignoring the fact that there is video evidence of the defendant’s guilt and ignoring concerns that the defendant could pose a threat to the public.
“In this matter — after hearing arguments from both sides and the arguments for detention — the judge determined that 24-hour home confinement on electronic monitoring with the education and social services already in place for the defendant that release, on these strict conditions did ‘ensure the safety of the defendant and the public,'” the spokesperson continued.
“Judge Nolan conducted a very thorough hearing … and spoke directly with defendant about the consequences of violating any portion of the release conditions,” the spokesperson added.
