Man Accused of Stealing Slain AU Professor's Jeep Expected to Face Two-Day Trial

The man accused of is expected to face trial this week.

A not guilty plea was entered April 3 for Deandrew Hamlin, 18, of Washington, D.C., according to online court records. He is charged with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, theft over $1000 and unauthorized removal of property.

A two-day jury trial is scheduled to begin April 6. However, citing unnamed sources, WTOP is reporting that the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office may be dropping a car theft charge against Hamlin.  Patch has not independently confirmed this information.

Marcum'safter an apparent burglary gone wrong. Fewer than 12 hours later, Hamlin was found driving Marcum’s missing 1999 Jeep Cherokee in the District. He led police on a high-speed chase through several D.C. police jurisdictions before rolling the car and attempting to run from police, prosecutors have said.

Hamlin has not been charged in Marcum’s murder, though police have called him a “possible suspect” and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy has called him “critical” in the state’s investigation of Marcum’s murder.

March 30, Hamlin was also indicted on a charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle in the District.