WASHINGTON — A magistrate judge in D.C. Superior Court found probable cause to hold the father of a 3-year-old boy who was discovered with a pistol in his backpack.
Magistrate Sherry Trafford said she was not overwhelmed by the evidence that prosecutors presented. She noted that several other adults had access to the boy’s backpack before Anthony Chiles picked up his son at the boy’s mother’s home and brought him to school.
But she ruled prosecutors met the relatively low burden of probable cause saying that Chiles, 31, of D.C., likely knew his son’s backpack had a Glock 17 in it and that he likely put the weapon in the bag.
Trafford ordered Chiles held until his next hearing set for Nov. 16 citing his recent conviction for driving without a permit and for what Trafford called his risk to the community.
Chiles was arrested on charges of carrying an unlicensed gun, possession of unregistered ammunition and child endangerment after a security guard at Moten Elementary School discovered the gun during a search of the boy’s backpack.
