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 In a recent unpublished opinion, a juvenile challenged fourth degree assault convictions, arguing the state had failed to prove he intended to hit his siblings with a door.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.