Man Accused of Stealing Slain AU Professor's Car Back in Custody

A man accused of stealing the car of slain American University professor Sue Marcum is back in custody after A Montgomery County Circuit Court judge set bail at $250,000 at a bench warrant hearing Tuesday.

Hamlin was found driving Marcum’s Jeep Oct. 25 in the District, hours after a victim of an apparent burglary gone wrong. Prosecutors said Hamlin, 18, led police on a high-speed chase through several Washington, D.C. police districts before he was arrested. Though he hasn’t been charged in the murder, prosecutors argued that Hamlin was “critical” to the investigation of Marcum’s homicide.

Hamlin, who had been released last month on $50,000 bond and was living with his father in Silver Spring, had violated his curfew and “absconded” back to the District, a violation of his pre-trial release conditions, according to court documents. Court documents also revealed that his father Mahdi Shabazz, who had been ordered to supervise Hamlin, had himself been found guilty of several past offenses, including a misdemeanor sex offense and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.

After going missing Jan. 26, Hamlin’s bond was revoked and a judge issued a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested again in the District Feb. 15.

“Me and my father had an argument,” Hamlin told Circuit Court judge Durke Thompson Tuesday.

Thompson set Hamlin’s bail at $250,000.  He set a pre-trial hearing date of March 3 and a trial date of April 6. “You can stay in jail, young man,” he told Hamlin.

Hamlin had previously been represented by lawyer Brian McDaniel, but will now be represented by a public defender.