DAO Update on Commonwealth v. Carl Holmes and Commonwealth v. Novice Sloan

CONTACT:

Jane Roh, District Attorney’s Office, 215–686–8711, Jane.Roh@phila.gov

PHILADELPHIA (January 16, 2020) — The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office (DAO) on Thursday provided the following updates on two cases against defendants who are former Philadelphia Police officers:

In the matter of Commonwealth v. Carl Holmes, in which the defendant is alleged by an Investigating Grand Jury to have sexually assaulted three female police officers under his charge, the Honorable Judge Karen Y. Simmons recused herself, citing her previous service as former chief legal counsel to the Philadelphia Police Department around the time of the alleged assaults. This will allow the Commonwealth’s case against Holmes, formerly Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector, to proceed before another judge. We look forward to proceeding with this case in a timely manner and to seeing justice done.

In the matter of Commonwealth v. Novice Sloan, in which rape is alleged against former Philadelphia Police Officer Novice Sloan and which was discharged today at the preliminary hearing, the DAO is reviewing our options. Those options include re-filing the charges.

Members of the public who wish to report criminal conduct by public officials or public employees in Philadelphia may do so by contacting the DAO Special Investigations Unit at 215–686–9921.

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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecution of over 40,000 criminal cases annually.