Delaware News

DOJ Secures 35-Count Indictment Against Group Responsible For Violent Crime Spree

Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Thursday, June 8, 2023


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Prosecutors have secured indictments against four defendants charged with multiple carjackings, along with kidnapping, rape, and theft.  

On June 5, the Department of Justice secured indictments against Defendants Tonnaire McNair-Matthews, 24, of Wilmington; David Hinson, 21, of Bear; Mahkiya Powell, 20, of Wilmington; and Michael Caldwell, 21, of Wilmington. The charges stem from an April, 14, 2023 crime spree in which various members of the group attempted four separate carjackings and caused four collisions, two related to carjackings and two additional and unrelated collisions. During one of the carjackings, McNair-Matthews kidnapped and raped the victim before fleeing and reuniting with the group. McNair-Matthews later attempted to use the victim’s payment cards at several locations.  

“These men displayed a disturbing level of disregard for the law and for our community,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “The amount of harm and senseless violence they carried out in a single day is astonishing and sad. I am grateful to our prosecutors and to the Delaware and Pennsylvania State Police for bringing them to justice and holding them accountable for the harm they’ve inflicted.” 

The charges against defendants McNair-Matthews, Hinson, Powell, and Caldwell are as follows: 

Tonnaire Mcnair-Matthews: 

  • One count of Attempted Robbery 1st Degree 
  • Two counts of Attempted Robbery 2nd Degree 
  • Two counts of Attempted Unlawful Use of a Payment Card 
  • Four counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree 
  • One count of Disregarding a Police Signal 
  • One count of Kidnapping 1st Degree 
  • One count of Leaving the Scene of a Collision Causing Injury 
  • Five counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony 
  • One count of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited 
  • Two counts of Rape 1st Degree 
  • Four counts of Rape 2nd Degree 
  • One count of Terroristic Threatening 

David Hinson: 

  • One count of Attempted Robbery 1st Degree 
  • Two counts of Attempted Robbery 2nd Degree 
  • One count of Attempted Unlawful Use of a Payment Card 
  • Four counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree 
  • Two counts of Disregarding a Police Signal 
  • Two counts of Leaving the Scene of a Collision Resulting in Property Damage 
  • One count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony 
  • One count of Robbery 1st Degree 
  • One count of Resisting Arrest 

 Mahkiya Powell: 

  • One count of Attempted Robbery 1st Degree 
  • One count of Attempted Robbery 2nd Degree 
  • Four counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree 
  • One count of Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Felony 
  • One count Robbery 1st Degree 

Michael Caldwell: 

  • One count of Aggravated Menacing 
  • One count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony 
  • One Count of Resisting Arrest 

This indictment was secured by Deputy Attorneys General Diana Dunn and William Leonard with the assistance of social worker Claudia Melton following investigation led by the Delaware State Police and assisted by the Pennsylvania State Police.  

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DOJ Secures 35-Count Indictment Against Group Responsible For Violent Crime Spree

Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Thursday, June 8, 2023


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center

Prosecutors have secured indictments against four defendants charged with multiple carjackings, along with kidnapping, rape, and theft.  

On June 5, the Department of Justice secured indictments against Defendants Tonnaire McNair-Matthews, 24, of Wilmington; David Hinson, 21, of Bear; Mahkiya Powell, 20, of Wilmington; and Michael Caldwell, 21, of Wilmington. The charges stem from an April, 14, 2023 crime spree in which various members of the group attempted four separate carjackings and caused four collisions, two related to carjackings and two additional and unrelated collisions. During one of the carjackings, McNair-Matthews kidnapped and raped the victim before fleeing and reuniting with the group. McNair-Matthews later attempted to use the victim’s payment cards at several locations.  

“These men displayed a disturbing level of disregard for the law and for our community,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “The amount of harm and senseless violence they carried out in a single day is astonishing and sad. I am grateful to our prosecutors and to the Delaware and Pennsylvania State Police for bringing them to justice and holding them accountable for the harm they’ve inflicted.” 

The charges against defendants McNair-Matthews, Hinson, Powell, and Caldwell are as follows: 

Tonnaire Mcnair-Matthews: 

  • One count of Attempted Robbery 1st Degree 
  • Two counts of Attempted Robbery 2nd Degree 
  • Two counts of Attempted Unlawful Use of a Payment Card 
  • Four counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree 
  • One count of Disregarding a Police Signal 
  • One count of Kidnapping 1st Degree 
  • One count of Leaving the Scene of a Collision Causing Injury 
  • Five counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony 
  • One count of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited 
  • Two counts of Rape 1st Degree 
  • Four counts of Rape 2nd Degree 
  • One count of Terroristic Threatening 

David Hinson: 

  • One count of Attempted Robbery 1st Degree 
  • Two counts of Attempted Robbery 2nd Degree 
  • One count of Attempted Unlawful Use of a Payment Card 
  • Four counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree 
  • Two counts of Disregarding a Police Signal 
  • Two counts of Leaving the Scene of a Collision Resulting in Property Damage 
  • One count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony 
  • One count of Robbery 1st Degree 
  • One count of Resisting Arrest 

 Mahkiya Powell: 

  • One count of Attempted Robbery 1st Degree 
  • One count of Attempted Robbery 2nd Degree 
  • Four counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree 
  • One count of Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Felony 
  • One count Robbery 1st Degree 

Michael Caldwell: 

  • One count of Aggravated Menacing 
  • One count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony 
  • One Count of Resisting Arrest 

This indictment was secured by Deputy Attorneys General Diana Dunn and William Leonard with the assistance of social worker Claudia Melton following investigation led by the Delaware State Police and assisted by the Pennsylvania State Police.  

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Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.