
Washington Court Discusses Domestic Violence Designations
The prosecution must produce adequate evidence to support domestic violence aggravating factors
The prosecution must produce adequate evidence to support domestic violence aggravating factors
When determining an appropriate sentence for a person convicted of an assault offense, the Washington courts will, among other things, calculate the person’s offender score. Numerous factors can impact the score, including whether the person has prior convictions for...
While some people may think of assault as a relatively minor offense, the opposite is true. In fact, in many cases, people convicted of assault crimes face lengthy prison sentences. Intervening changes in the law may allow people sentenced to substantial prison terms...
Under Washington law, there are numerous assault crimes that the state can accuse a person of committing. The severity of the charges depends, in part, on the level of harm the alleged victim suffered due to the assault. As discussed in a recent opinion issued in a...
Under Washington law, the prosecution bears the burden of proof in criminal trials. The State is permitted to use various means to establish a defendant’s guilt, including, in some instances, business records, which include recorded phone calls. As discussed in a...
There are several ways that our Tacoma Criminal Defense Lawyers can work to get your case dismissed. These include: Lack of probable cause: If the police did not have a valid reason to stop, detain or arrest the defendant, the case may be dismissed. This could occur...
Q: What constitutes a felony violation of a no-contact order in Tacoma, WA?RCW 10.99.040 A: In Washington state, including Tacoma, a violation of a no-contact order typically becomes a felony if the individual has two or more prior convictions for violating similar...
In Washington criminal matters, evidence of prior bad acts and crimes is typically considered inadmissible due to concerns about prejudice. However, the state recognizes exceptions to this general rule and allows the introduction of such evidence for specific and...
In Washington criminal matters, the State bears the burden of showing, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant committed the charged offense. The State can rely on direct and circumstantial evidence to prove its case. Generally, any evidence that is relevant is...