Rontarus Washington Jr. formally charged with armed robbery and battery using a deadly weapon
photo by: Shawnee County Adult Detention Center
A former Lawrence man who is currently suing the state for wrongful imprisonment in connection with a long-running murder case has been formally charged with armed robbery and battery using a deadly weapon.
The man, Rontarus Washington Jr., 27, of Topeka, is charged in Shawnee County District Court with one count of aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated battery, according to charging documents. Both charges are felonies, involve the same victim, and allege that he used a deadly weapon to commit the crimes, though the documents do not state what the weapon was.
Washington is also charged with one count of felony interference with law enforcement and one misdemeanor count of attempted battery on a law enforcement agent.
Washington was arrested in connection with the charges at 11:20 p.m. on Aug. 24, as the Journal-World reported. Officers in the area of Oakmart, a convenience store at 2518 NE Seward Ave., observed an individual run from the business at about 10 p.m. After speaking with an Oakmart employee, police believed that the individual, later identified as Washington, had just committed a robbery. Officers located Washington in the area and took him into custody.
He is being held on a $155,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 7 for a scheduling conference.
Washington spent more than five years in the Douglas County Jail charged with the murder of Justina Altamirano Mosso, 19, whose body was found Nov. 9, 2014. Washington was tried for the killing after he told investigators he was in the residence to steal money but that he didn’t kill her, but a jury could not agree on a verdict. A second prosecution was pending, but the case was dismissed without prejudice on Dec. 22, 2021, by current District Attorney Suzanne Valdez. The case remains unsolved.
Washington has a federal lawsuit for wrongful incarceration pending in that case, as the Journal-World has reported.
More coverage: Rontarus Washington Jr. case
• April 28, 2023: Former DA says Rontarus Washington Jr. has no claim for wrongful incarceration, asks court to dismiss case; also says statute of limitations has run
• March 30, 2023: Douglas County and sheriffs named in federal lawsuit deny claims of wrongful incarceration by Rontarus Washington Jr.
• February 16, 2023: Rontarus Washington Jr.’s attorney admits he was mistaken in claiming in lawsuit that woman’s husband was charged in her death
• February 15, 2023 : Rontarus Washington Jr. sues Douglas County, former DA and current sheriff for wrongful imprisonment
• January 12, 2022: Mother of Rontarus Washington Jr. calls for police to be held accountable for dismissed murder case
Retrial efforts and the dismissal
• December 22, 2021: Douglas County DA dismissing high-profile rape and murder cases
• October 4, 2021: Judge allows ankle monitor to be removed from Rontarus Washington Jr. in long-running murder case
• July 16, 2021: Rontarus Washington Jr.’s murder trial pushed to a year from now; judge expresses frustration over continued delays
• May 4, 2021: Judge approves Innocence Project counsel for Lawrence murder case, notes current trial date could be pushed back
• April 20, 2021: Rontarus Washington Jr.’s counsel withdraws from long-running murder case; he might soon be represented by Innocence Project
• March 25, 2021: Court approves attorneys’ request to withdraw from long-running murder case, but moments later rescinds order
• March 19, 2021: Court delays ruling on attorneys’ request to withdraw from Rontarus Washington Jr.’s long-running murder case
• March 17, 2021: Attorneys for Rontarus Washington Jr. want to withdraw from long-running murder case
• Feb. 23, 2021: Defense arranges for outside expert to test footwear evidence in Rontarus Washington murder case
• Feb. 8, 2021: Defense alleges prosecution had a ‘quid pro quo’ for testimony in murder case; prosecutors say there is no evidence
• Jan. 19, 2021: Detective testifies about conversations with homicide victim’s husband in Rontarus Washington Jr. murder case
• Nov. 13, 2020: Attorney testifies that he told prosecutor ‘you’ve got the wrong guy’ in murder case — but admits he provided no concrete evidence
• Oct. 9, 2020: Prosecutors, defense counsel argue about alleged ‘bad acts’ of Lawrence homicide victim’s husband in Rontarus Washington Jr. case
• Sept. 11, 2020: Motions hearing dates set in Rontarus Washington Jr.’s case
• Sept. 6, 2020: Breaking down the case of Rontarus Washington Jr., charged in 2014 Lawrence murder: FAQs and the latest motions
• Aug. 31, 2020: Prosecutor withdraws from Rontarus Washington Jr. murder case
• July 13, 2020: COVID-19 precautions, ‘technical difficulties’ hinder public access to court hearing in Lawrence murder case
• July 1, 2020: Judge modifies bond to $500K for murder defendant, who is released the same day after 5 years in jail
• June 30, 2020: State argues against bond reduction for long-jailed murder defendant Washington, notes that all 11 delays have been at defendant’s request
• June 12, 2020: Rontarus Washington Jr., jailed 5 years on suspicion of Lawrence murder, to receive new bond hearing; defense alleges misconduct by state
• May 4, 2020: DNA testing challenges due to COVID-19 further delay long-pending Lawrence murder case
• March 22, 2020: Speedy trial rights are on hold in Kansas. What does that mean for defendants?
• March 6, 2020: Retrial date set for Rontarus Washington Jr. in 2014 Lawrence murder case
• Feb. 28, 2020: Rontarus Washington Jr. defense pursues independent lab to avoid alleged KBI bias in Lawrence murder case
• Feb. 24, 2020: Rontarus Washington Jr.’s retrial date still pending in Lawrence murder case; DNA testing timeline uncertain
• Feb. 3, 2020: Rontarus Washington Jr., in jail 5 years in pending Lawrence murder case, will wait longer as defense requests more DNA testing
• After the trial — Oct. 7, 2019: In Lawrence murder trial deliberations, majority of jurors flipped votes from not guilty to guilty; new trial scheduled
September 2019 trial
• Day 20 — Oct. 4, 2019: Jury unable to reach verdict in 2014 Lawrence murder case; prosecutor wants to try again
• Day 19 — Oct. 3, 2019: Lengthy Lawrence murder trial could end with hung jury; deliberations to resume Friday
• Day 18 — Oct. 2, 2019: Jury continues deliberating in Lawrence murder trial; will resume Thursday
• Day 17, closing arguments — Oct. 1, 2019: Prosecutor rehashes defendant’s story’s ‘progression,’ defense emphasizes passion in closing arguments for Lawrence murder trial
• Day 17, last of testimony — Oct. 1, 2019: Longtime Cedarwood resident may have seen Lawrence murder victim kissing an unknown man, he testifies
• Day 16 — Sept. 30, 2019: Detective: Husband’s phone was en route to Manhattan at time of Lawrence murder victim’s death
• Day 15 — Sept. 27, 2019: Defendant and victim’s husband left prints on toilet tank lid used as weapon in Lawrence murder
• Day 14 — Sept. 26, 2019: Expert: Partial DNA on Lawrence murder victim’s nail could link to 1 in 2,000 men
• Day 13 — Sept. 25, 2019: Lawrence murder defendant tells police he walked in on body, then they accuse him, video shows
• Day 12 — Sept. 24, 2019: Neighbors: Defendant in Lawrence murder case requested ride out of state; victim and husband often had screaming arguments
• Day 11 — Sept. 23, 2019: Coroner testifies that Lawrence homicide victim likely died of blood loss from multiple stab wounds and other cuts
• Day 10 — Sept. 20, 2019: Co-worker of murder victim’s husband lied to Lawrence police, he says; footwear impression expert testifies
• Day 9 — Sept. 19, 2019: Lawrence murder victim’s best friend testifies, alleges domestic abuse in victim’s marriage
• Day 8 — Sept. 18, 2019: Investigator gives jury photo walkthrough of crime scene in Lawrence murder case
• Day 7 — Sept. 17, 2019: Husband of Lawrence murder victim wants to stay in U.S. only until case wraps, he testifies
• Day 6 — Sept. 16, 2019: Lawrence murder victim’s husband recounts alleged infidelity, lack of trust in relationship
• Day 5 — Sept. 13, 2019: Lawrence murder victim’s husband believed she was pregnant at time of her death, he testifies
• Day 4 — Sept. 12, 2019: Cousin testifies about last time she saw Lawrence murder victim alive
• Day 3 — Sept. 11, 2019: With jury selected, Lawrence murder trial to proceed
• Day 2 — Sept. 10, 2019: Prosecutor questions jury pool about graphic photos, domestic violence, biases in Lawrence murder trial
• Day 1 — Sept. 9, 2019: Jury selection begins in trial for 2014 Lawrence murder
Before trial
• Sept. 5, 2019: Lawrence murder case, pending since 2014, set for trial next week
• March 19, 2019: Last-minute access to victim’s phone prompts another delay for murder trial of Lawrence man now jailed 4-plus years
• Feb. 21, 2019: 4 years after slaying, Lawrence homicide victim’s phone may finally be unlocked
• Dec. 28, 2018: Defense continues dissecting evidence in murder case against man arrested 4 years ago
• Dec. 23, 2018: Citing alleged missteps in 30-year-old New York case, defense lawyer demands coroner be barred from 2 Lawrence murder trials
• Oct. 17, 2018: Trial now set to begin 4 years after man’s arrest in slaying of woman at Cedarwood Apartments
• June 1, 2018: Douglas County Jail’s longest-serving inmate asks for murder trial to be delayed again
• Nov. 19, 2017: Psychologists fill in picture of man accused of violently stabbing young Lawrence woman to death
• Oct. 23, 2017: Mental competency evaluation for Cedarwood Apartments murder suspect done, but disputed
• May 16, 2017: Competency evaluation ordered for man accused in 2014 Cedarwood Apartments slaying
• Sept. 4, 2015: Homicide victim’s husband recounts ‘bad’ relationship with wife; man charged in death bound over for trial
• Sept. 3, 2015: Coroner: November stabbing death of Lawrence woman, 19, was ‘overkill,’ ‘personal’
• April 20, 2015: Homicide victim’s ex ordered to appear at preliminary hearing; affidavit sheds more light on the killing
• March 16, 2015: Lawrence man charged with murder in death of woman at Cedarwood apartments
• Jan. 16, 2015: Mississippi officials unsure when homicide suspect may have extradition hearing; accused was victim’s neighbor
• Jan. 15, 2015: Man arrested in connection with November murder of 19-year-old Lawrence woman
• Dec. 2, 2014: Police: Still no arrest in woman’s homicide, language barrier an added hurdle to investigation
• Nov. 25, 2015: Cedarwood homicide victim buried in Mexico
• Nov. 18, 2014: Police identify homicide victim at Cedarwood Apartments as 19-year-old woman
• Nov. 11, 2014: No arrests, suspects in Cedarwood possible homicide; investigators remain on scene
• Nov. 10, 2014: Police investigating possible homicide at Cedarwood apartments
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