A defense lawyer recently filed court documents with an urgent plea for assistance after his client, Kristal Rios Esquivel, was detained for a week despite prosecutors not requesting her detention.
Rios Esquivel had been arrested at the National Zoo on August 20th for reportedly trying to access a restricted staff area. During her arrest, she allegedly spat at a police sergeant and made physical contact with the officer’s feet.
Federal authorities did not bring her to court until August 25th, which was three days past the required timeline set by U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui. The judge criticized this delay in a court order issued on Tuesday.
“During the hearing on August 25th, the government did not request Rios Esquivel’s detention,” he stated. “In fact, I proposed her release under minimal conditions.” He also noted in a footnote that, amid the political pressures surrounding former President Trump, she had spent a total of six days in jail.
The defense attorney also submitted a motion titled “Help!!!” that claimed there was significant confusion over a warrant related to her case. Although the authorities had suggested there was an outstanding warrant, it was later clarified that the warrant had already been addressed through pretrial services.
The defense attorney expressed dismay over the inability to clear up the confusion, finishing his document with the same urgent plea, “Help!!!”
Judge Faruqui remarked that the client’s detention appeared improper. He highlighted that the Department of Corrections informed the defense attorney they could not comply with the release order due to a “hit” on Rios Esquivel’s name in the warrant system. However, the warrant in question was the same one reviewed during her August 25th appearance before the judge.
Sources revealed that Justice Department prosecutors intervened to rectify the erroneous database entry that led to her extended detention. Faruqui labeled the situation a case of “false incarceration” and pointed out a related incident that had occurred earlier in the year.
He emphasized the need for timely resolution to such issues, urging that there should be swift measures to ensure individuals ordered for release are actually freed. Meanwhile, the DC Department of Corrections and federal attorneys have opted not to comment on the matter.
