Criminal Defense

Burglary offenses in Washington State are felonies. That means if you’re convicted of a burglary charge, you will likely be sentenced to prison for a long time. You will have to pay large penalties. When you are released from prison, you will likely find it very difficult to find a place to live or to…

There’s a wonderful new book by Amor Towles called Lincoln Highway. In the story two adolescents fight. One teenager falls backward, trips over a cable, strikes his head on a concrete block, and dies nearly two months later. The adolescent who struck the fatal blow is then sentenced to a state work farm. The warden…

As attorneys, we always pay close attention to any new laws being passed in Washington State, especially when they can potentially affect the lives of the people we help. Nine new laws that were passed in Washington last year go into effect now, in 2022. While many of the news laws concern civil matters such…

Most county, city, and state district attorneys across Washington and the country were former prosecutors. Prosecutors represent the state by trying defendants for the crimes they’ve been charged with violating. It’s the rare exception for a public defender to be elected as a district attorney. Yet, in Philadelphia, former public defender and civil rights attorney…

Defendants who are convicted of crimes in Washington may be imprisoned and required to pay large fines. Even when they are released from prison, their criminal record may haunt them. It may be hard to own a gun, to find employment, and to rent an apartment. In Washington, felons also lose the right to vote…

The police and prosecutors must account for the evidence they seize from you, or that is used against you. In drug cases, the accounting must take place from the moment any drugs are seized, and from the moment there are any chemical evaluations of the drugs. It’s only through an accounting of who handled the…

Many federal and state crimes are motivated by hate and prejudice. Hate crimes include offenses that are based on bias toward victims because of their race, national origin, gender, sexual preference, disability, religion, and other identity factors. These offenses usually are distinct crimes separate and apart from other offenses. Hate crimes also include standard criminal…

Shoplifting might sound like a minor crime – slipping something into your pocket and walking away. However, under state law, shoplifting charges are a misdemeanor or even a felony, meaning not only might you have to pay fines and perform community service if convicted, but you may also have to serve jail time. The severity…

The federal government and the State of Washington both have criminal forfeiture laws. The essence of these laws is that if you commit certain crimes, the government may be able to seize some of your property – if there’s reason to believe that property was used in connection with any criminal activity. For example, if…