Criminal Law

Washington Supreme Court Addresses Requirements for Juvenile Arrest Warrants

August 28, 2025 | by Blair & Kim, PLLC

In a recent case, the Washington Supreme Court considered whether the court rule and statute related to juvenile bench warrants can be harmonized.

Upon a guilty plea to fourth degree assault in March 2022, the juvenile was sentenced to seven months’ community supervision with a number of conditions.

The state moved for a bench warrant later that month, alleging the juvenile posed a serious threat to public safety pursuant to JuCR 7.16. The state alleged she was associating with an older male with gang associations, a criminal history, and a pending investigation relating to an alleged crime against the juvenile. The state argued his criminal history and the age difference “creates a situation where [the juvenile] too poses a serious threat to community safety.”

King County Administrative Booking Procedure Violates Washington State Constitution Protections

August 14, 2025 | by Blair & Kim, PLLC

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Washington State Constitution provides additional protection, with article I, section 7 protecting individuals from disturbances into their private affairs without authority of law. The Washington Supreme Court recently determined that the administrative booking procedure used in King County violated article I, section 7.

The defendant was charged with a felony in King County. He was not arrested or booked, but summonsed to appear at arraignment.

The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his personal recognizance with certain conditions.

Washington Marijuana Manufacturing Conviction Reversed for Lack of Probable Cause for Warrant

July 28, 2025 | by Blair & Kim, PLLC

Both the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and article I, section 7 of the Washington State Constitution require probable cause for a search warrant to be issued. Evidence obtained from an illegal search must be suppressed. State v. Betancourth. Even if a search warrant was obtained, evidence seized pursuant to the warrant must be suppressed if there was not probable cause. State v. Gudgell.

A defendant recently challenged his convictions, arguing the there was not probable cause for the search warrant. According to the unpublished opinion of the appeals of the appeals court, he was charged with the manufacture of marijuana after law enforcement found 149 cannabis plants inside his home.

The defendant moved to suppress the evidence, arguing the search warrant had not been supported by probable cause. The court denied his motion to suppress and found him guilty in a bench trial.

Washington Juvenile Assault Convictions Reversed Due to Lack of Evidence of Intent

June 23, 2025 | by Blair & Kim, PLLC

Incidents that lead to Washington assault charges can often be hectic events with multiple people involved, especially if there are people trying to intervene. In a recent unpublished opinion, a juvenile challenged fourth degree assault convictions, arguing the state had failed to prove he intended to hit his siblings with a door.

The appeals court described the incident as follows. The juvenile was arguing with his stepmother in his room. His father came into the room and the juvenile got angry and punched him “a couple of times,” according to the appeals court’s opinion. The father went outside.

The juvenile followed, but other members of the family tried to stop him. He hit his stepmother in the stomach. His brother tried to hold the door closed. As the juvenile opened the door, it hit his brother’s arm and his sister’s head. The juvenile punched his father multiple times and his stepmother called 911. The juvenile fled before the ambulance arrived.

Application of Confrontation Clause to Forensic Tests in Washington Criminal Cases

June 11, 2025 | by Blair & Kim, PLLC

Both the Washington Constitution and the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution give a criminal defendant the right to confront the witnesses against them. Testimonial statements of a witness who did not appear at trial are only permitted if the witness was unavailable and the defendant had previously had the opportunity to cross-examine them. The Washington Supreme Court recently reconsidered whether the testimony of a supervisor instead of the lab technician who actually performed testing implicated the protections of the confrontation clause.

According to the Court’s opinion, the defendant was involved in an accident that resulted in drug paraphernalia spilling onto the road from her trunk. The defendant was taken to the hospital, so no field sobriety tests were performed. A state trooper went to the hospital and saw that the defendant’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, with dilated pupils. He obtained a search warrant for a blood test.

The blood test showed 1.5±0.40 nanograms per milliliter of TCH in the defendant’s blood.

Washington Appeals Court Determines Deferred Prosecution Not Limited to 5 Years

May 9, 2025 | by Blair & Kim, PLLC

In some circumstances, a person charged with a Washington misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor may petition for deferred prosecution. Deferred prosecution can be an alternative to punishment for individuals who would benefit from treatment. The individual generally must cooperate with and complete the treatment program. A Washington appeals court recently considered whether a trial court could “extend” a deferred prosecution order.

The defendant was charged with driving under the influence (“DUI”) in December 2013. She petitioned for a deferred prosecution and the court accepted the petition and approved the treatment plan for her alcohol use disorder.

Multiple probation officers notified the court the defendant violated the conditions of the order between 2015 and 2021.

Washington Law Prohibiting Inclusion of Most Juvenile Adjudications in Offender Score Applies Prospectively

April 28, 2025 | by Blair & Kim, PLLC

A Washington juvenile adjudication of guilt can have lifelong consequences. Current Washington law limits the types of adjudications that can be included in calculating an offender score for a subsequent sentencing, but until recently, other non-violent juvenile adjudications could also affect an offender score. In a recent case, the state challenged a trial court’s application of the 2023 statutory amendment limiting the inclusion of juvenile adjudications in an offender score because the amendment took effect after the offense occurred.

According to the unpublished opinion of the appeals court, the defendant was charged with second degree robbery in April 2023. The legislature amended RCW 9.94A.525(1)(b) in July 2023, which was after the incident leading to the charges and before the defendant’s guilty plea and sentencing. The amended statute prohibits most juvenile adjudications from being included in a defendant’s offender score.

The defendant pleaded guilty in October. He had previously been adjudicated guilty of second degree assault with a deadly weapon as a juvenile. This adjudication would have been 2 points under RCW 9.94A.525 before the amendment. The trial court, however, applied the current version of the statute because it took effect before calculation of the defendant’s offender score and his sentencing. The trial court determined the defendant had an offender score of 0, resulting in a standard sentencing range of three to nine months. The court sentenced him to five months confinement.

Washington Appeals Court Addresses Mixed-Motive Traffic Stop

April 11, 2025 | by Blair & Kim, PLLC

A defendant recently challenged his convictions for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, use of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree (“UPF”). The convictions arose from a traffic stop, which the defendant argued was pretextual. He also challenged his UPF conviction on constitutional grounds.

According to the appeals court’s opinion, a police officer on patrol saw a parked vehicle pull out without signaling. The bumper obscured the front plate and the rear plate light was not working. He stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as the defendant.

The officer saw drug paraphernalia in an open bag on the seat. The defendant consented to a search of the vehicle, but revoked that consent. The officer obtained a warrant and seized evidence from the vehicle, including a handgun, controlled substances, and drug paraphernalia.

Washington Appeals Court Reverses Second Degree Assault Conviction Based on Merger Doctrine

March 30, 2025 | by Blair & Kim, PLLC

Generally, the state can bring multiple charges arising from the same conduct in one proceeding, but double jeopardy protections under both the U.S. and Washington Constitutions protect a Washington criminal defendant from multiple punishments for the same offense. If a defendant is charged under different statutes for the same act, the court must determine if those crimes are the same offense. A Washington defendant recently challenged his robbery and assault convictions, arguing they violated his double jeopardy protections.

According to the appeals court’s unpublished opinion, the defendant took trading cards and a package of tuna from a Walmart store on Black Friday in 2021. Loss prevention officers (“LPOs”) thought he was behaving suspiciously when they saw him selecting the cards.

Two LPOs followed him while another observed through the surveillance feed. The LPOs saw him go past the registers without making a purchase. They stopped him in the vestibule. The defendant turned over a box of trading cards and the tuna and moved past one of the LPOs. The two LPOs testified that he had shoved one of them, but the defendant denied it.

Washington Appeals Court Determines Juvenile’s Case Was Improperly Dismissed with Prejudice

March 13, 2025 | by Blair & Kim, PLLC

Pursuant to CrR 8.3(a), a Washington trial court may dismiss an indictment, information, or complaint upon motion of the prosecutor. Pursuant to CrR 8.3(b), the court may dismiss a prosecution because of governmental misconduct or arbitrary action if the defendant’s rights have been prejudiced, materially affecting his right to a fair trial. Pursuant to CrR 8.3(c), the court must dismiss without prejudice if the court grants a defendant’s motion for pretrial dismissal because of insufficient evidence. A Washington appeals court recently considered whether a trial court could dismiss a criminal case with prejudice when the state had moved for dismissal without prejudice pursuant to CrR 8.3(a).

According to the opinion, a juvenile defendant, identified by the appeals court as “WH” was charged with third degree malicious mischief, first degree animal cruelty, and second degree assault by strangulation, and harassment – threats to kill, arising from an incident involving his girlfriend, identified as “KM.” He made a preliminary appearance in juvenile court. The state added charges for attempted second degree murder and, alternatively, second degree attempted felony murder and transferred the case to adult court.

The state subsequently asked to return the case to juvenile court with the attempted murder charges dismissed. The juvenile was arraigned again under the original case number and pleaded not guilty in juvenile court.