Washington Criminal Law Questions & Answers
Q: My girlfriend hit a tree while drunk and lied about it to her insurance. She made fake tow receipts someone called geico
Siu to report her fraud after they’d already repaired the car. Does geico follow up on the things and wouldn’t she have heard from geico within a week?
The short answer is that yes, they do sometimes follow up after paying. From the description, she committed a crime. She might or might not ever hear directly from GEICO (except maybe to cancel her insurance). Much more likely is that if they found out about this, they reported it to the police.... Read more »
Q: How do I get my case dismissed?
I got a ticket for dws. I wasnt driving. Car wasnt running. And no keys in the ignition. Parked in a parking lot at a gas station. Wasnt even my car. So I went to court on the date the ticket told me to. Which was 2 weeks from the date I got the ticket. I wasnt on the docket. I asked the court... Read more »
There are a couple items that jump out at me here. The first is that driving while your license is suspended is not just a ticket. It is a criminal offense. It isn't a very serious offense, but it is still a criminal charge. I know the form that they wrote it up on looks just like a traffic... Read more »
Q: What can i do? my 17yr old lives with 18yr boy friend but he is hitting her.
My daughter 17 lives w her boy friend 18 and his parents. They been together 2 yrs now they have a 9 month old baby. We found out he is hitting her. But she denys it. There is witnesses to this behavior. As a mother what can i do? She turns 18 in December so i need help fast. She has been suicidal... Read more »
The law allows a parent to seek a protection order on behalf of a minor child. So you can go to the local courthouse and ask for a protection order that would prohibit him from contacting her, but that would only be valid until she is 18.
You can of course report what is happening to local... Read more »
Q: Is there a limit of how long they can hold a minor on probable cause in detention?
A detention hearing must be held within 72 hours. That time period may be extended if the arrest falls on a weekend or holiday.
At that hearing the Judge will release the juvenile unless there is finding that further detention is required to ensure their appearance in court or to protect... Read more »
Q: I was a victim of rabbery 2, I know he is a first time felion. He has a public defender representing him.
I was wondering if someone could tell about how long of a sentence he might get?
You should contact the victim advocate at the prosecutor’s office
Q: I need a no contact order lifted. I have no money. What are my options?
Different courts handle these differently. First if there is a public defender on the case, ask her or him what the process is. If not, or if you don't know who that is, then call the court and ask them the procedure. You can do this without a lawyer and there are no costs. But if there is a lawyer... Read more »
Q: Someone keeps creating online accounts to send me foul messages and harass me, can I do anything about it legally?
My boyfriend’s ex girlfriend keeps creating social media profiles to get in touch with me, and recently the messages have turned threatening and has gotten my family involved. She even hacked into my boyfriend’s Facebook account, and messaged me pretending to be my boyfriend to get a nude photo... Read more »
This is not a securities law question.
Q: Acting as owner, but has not recieved the name on deed nor has gone through probate
The daughter to my late mothers late boyfriend has made agreements for the future buyer to make the tax payments until she goes through probate ( and its been a couple of years she has been doing this.)
Thank you for sharing. You don’t ask a question. Should you ask again, try writing in separate sentences instead of a single run on
Q: When charged with vehicular assault, will the person be held on bail or released after there hearing.
The person has no prior record
There is no exact answer. Depends on the jurisdiction, who the judge is, and the facts of the case. The most important factor about the facts of the case is probably whether it was alcohol related or not.
If the person appears out of custody, particularly if they appear with a lawyer, they... Read more »
Q: Can a warrant be issued at night and not served until 4 days later and still be valid. I was told the only way a warrant
Could be issued after court hours was if the evidence to be seized would be gone by the time the court reopened to obtain the warrant
In Washington the short answer is yes, that can be done. There is no requirement for an after hours warrant that the evidence is going to be gone soon. The judge might not be happy about having her evening interrupted, but there's PC it doesn't matter what time the warrant is obtained.
4... Read more »
Q: How can I find a Lawyer to help my son, who is incarcerated, write his brief for appeal court?
My son need a Lawyer that will help him was appeal brief, so he can get an appeal. The family is will to give a fee for this service.
There are many lawyers around the state who specialize in appeals. I highly recommend Jeremy Morris, but full disclosure he is my law partner.
You should be able to find appellate lawyers with a quick search.
Q: Is it illegal to have a poppy pod as part of your artwork?
I have an etsy shop and listed a handmade box and book with flower seeds. It focuses on Papaver somniferum common names are Opium Poppy, breadseed poppy. Etsy took it down today saying poppy pods and poppy straw are prohibited. I don't want to argue with them but is this just etsy or is selling a... Read more »
Most likely it's a subjective determination by Etsy about inclusion of a prohibited item in the product. Clearly, they appear to be taking things a bit far in this regard, but it's Etsy's platform, and therefore its terms of service (or terms of use, etc.) may empower it with the ability to remove... Read more »
Q: This is my first time getting a Ticket I had 8 crab undersized is my fine going to be very bad
Grays harbor county Washington state
It depends on where you received the criminal citation. In certain jurisdictions, I have been able to resolve criminal Fish & Wildlife issues as infractions.
Q: I’m a bit confused on the wording of this law in WA state: RCW 46.61.685
So if the motor is not running is that okay?
Correct - that crime is only committed if the engine is running.
Q: What are the consequences for telling a judge that a DV report they called in didn’t really happen?
The state is trying to prosecute a DV4 case, what are the possible consequences if the reporter recants and tells the judge it didn’t really happen?
Let's start with, this isn't the judge's first rodeo. Credibility of the recantation will be at issue.
Next, you're question needs to be put in the context of where you are with regard to trial and sentencing.
If you are pretrial, the goal would seem to be to cause the... Read more »
Q: I am researching a double murder case from 1992 involving a US Army member shooting and killing 2
Other US Army members. I can not find any information on it, why?
If you are trying to research something somewhat vague, it can be difficult to find it. If you knew who and where, that would certainly help.
You didn't say how you were researching.
Here is an interesting website that might help you in some way. cite: www.jagcnet.army.mil/ACCA#... Read more »
Q: How long does the prosecution have to bring the accusinal to trial? The charges were filed and Ive chosen a jury tri
The chargers were from 2014 and I obtained my lawyer in 2016 he did request more time to prepare the case since before I was working with a public defender. 6 months after getting the Lawyer he was ready for trial. I believe he may have asked for up to 2 continuances. But we have not requested for... Read more »
You might want to hire a private criminal defense attorney to deal with this if your PD is dragging his/ her feet. Have you waived your constitutional right to a speedy trial? More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step is an Initial Consultation... Read more »
Q: can i own a firearm if i have stayed out of trouble from 3/7/2006 with a vucsa : possession w/intent to manufacture
no violations on doc plus
I now have a job with Boeing and have been a contributing member of society as I learned from my mistakes and have a wife and kids whom I would very much like to be able to protect legally if the situation should ever occur where I need too? Lets hope it never... Read more »
You cannot possess a firearm unless you have had that right restored by a court of law. However, if you have no other history, based upon those charges and the length of time, you may very well be eligible to restore your rights pursuant to RCW 9.41.047 Restoration of possession rights. Best of... Read more »
Q: I was involved in a liquor board sting. I was not given a ticket, citation, summons, any sort of notification to appear
(Convenience store clerk) At the time of the alleged incident all I received was a business card from the accusing officer & was told I would be hearing from the district attorney if they decided to go forth with charges. 8 months later I was pulled over on a traffic stop & arrested on a warrant... Read more »
Unfortunately this is not uncommon. Investigators send their report to the local prosecutor, who may take weeks or months to file a charge. The court sends a summons to whatever address they can find for you, and that is often an out of date address; could be the one you had the last time you got a... Read more »
Q: My brother and I live with our father (adult aged). I came home to find that he took my furniture and sold it. Legal?
He made a previous threats to do this.
The furniture was purchased by me.
It was located in my room, as we have separate rooms.
He did not have permission to use or sell my belongings.
Is this theft allowing me to press charges?
Took place in Washington... Read more »
You may be able to sue for damages for the conversion of personal property, trespass, and breach of any tenancy agreement. Moving out may be worth considering. More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step is an Initial Consultation with an... Read more »
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