Washington State Governor Signs a Bill to Erase Marijuana Misdemeanors Washington State legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, and criminal penalties finally are catching up. According to a recent article in The Seattle Times, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill pertaining to marijuana convictions. Once the new law takes effect, most people with misdemeanor marijuana convictions will be able to have those convictions erased. To… Read More
Hate Crimes Spiked in Washington During 2018 A recent report from the Anti-Defamation League confirmed what the FBI said last November. The number of hate crimes in Washington State increased dramatically in 2018. According to a national audit, anti-Semitic incidents in Washington increased 60 percent between 2017 and 2018. Hate crimes are up overall as well. According to the FBI report, race,… Read More
Washington State Bill Proposes Harsher Penalties for People Who “Patronize” Prostitutes In the coming months, there may be some changes coming to Washington state law regarding the penalties for solicitation of prostitution. Under current state law, the punishment for prostitution; the illicit sale of sex, and for solicitation; the illicit buying of sex; are largely similar. However, HB 1383, a bill that is making its… Read More
King County Prosecutors Increase Bail In Homicide Case Citing risk of flight and the heinous nature of the allegations, prosecutors convinced a judge to increase Jeremy Shaw’s bail from $1 million to $2.5 million. According to court documents, Mr. Shaw bludgeoned a Boeing retiree to death in order to claim his house and land in an isolated area of King County. Prosecutors also… Read More
Legal Loophole Blocks King County Case Against Seattle Officers Lack of Evidence; The best defense in both police officer and civilian assault cases; although, other defenses include self-defense and defense of property. King County officials will not file charges against two former Seattle officers who poured numerous gunshots into a fleeing vehicle. In refusing to pursue the case, prosecutors cited Washington’s controversial malice requirement in police… Read More
Man Arrested for Hit and Run Accident When you cause a car accident, the law says you must remain at the accident scene. Otherwise, you could be charged with hit and run, which comes with serious penalties depending on the extent of the damage involved. It could be charged as a misdemeanor or felony. A Washington man is facing hit and run… Read More
Rapper Nelly Accused of Rape in Washington Nobody is immune to the law—not even celebrities. Rapper Nelly, who was scheduled to perform in Washington on October 7, had a run-in with the law the morning of his concert. Police responded to a 911 call from a woman who claimed she was raped on the rapper’s tour bus. They found Nelly on his… Read More
What is Considered a Hit and Run Accident? If you are driving and end up in an accident, what are your responsibilities as a motorist? If you are uninjured, can you simply drive away and keep going to your destination? When any type of accident occurs—whether it involves a pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle or other vehicles—you must stop at the scene. If the… Read More
What is an Ignition Interlock License? Driving while intoxicated comes with serious penalties in Washington and other states. One of those penalties is license suspension. Depending on the circumstances, you may have your license suspended anywhere from 90 days to four years. This is a long time to be without a driver’s license, especially if you work, go to school or… Read More
The Difference Between Misdemeanor and Felony Charges Being charged with a crime is a serious matter, requiring a swift and aggressive legal defense. Even otherwise minor incidents could leave you with a criminal record that prevents you from obtaining a job, a loan, or a place to live. The following outlines basic types of criminal charges in Washington and penalties associated with… Read More