OXON HILL, Md. -- A man charged in a fatal stabbing and controversially released on personal recognizance to his mom is back in custody on an unrelated drug charge, Prince George's County officials said.
Sean Sykes, 18, of Oxon Hill, was charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 24 stabbing of Rene Belasco and released after a March 5 bond hearing. That upset the victim's family and friends and baffled prosecutors.
"I honestly can't recall a scenario where a first-degree murder suspect or second-degree suspect was released on personal recognizance to his mother," State's Attorney Glenn Ivey said Wednesday.
Sykes and an accomplice are accused in the death of 24-year-old Rene Belasco and threatening to kill a witness. Sykes was charged with second-degree murder and ordered held on $1.5 million bond, but last week, District Court Judge Hassan A. El-Amin released Sykes to the custody of his mother, saying most defendants appear at their bond hearing without lawyers, as Sykes did.
Prosecutors challenged the release and urged a circuit court judge to revive an earlier drug charge.
Sykes was arrested in northeast D.C. Thursday night on a charge from January. A charge of drug possession with intent to distribute marijuana had been inactive under the conditions that Sykes complete a drug diversion program and stay out of trouble. It became active again after he was charged with murder.
An extradition hearing will be held to determine if and when Sykes will be sent back to Prince George's County, Ivey said.
