This month, which is National Recovery Month, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO) is celebrating the newest graduates of King County’s Drug Diversion Court. The five-phase program is a minimum of 10 months, though the average graduate is part of the program for 18 months.
Last week, eleven individuals graduated from Drug Court, which offers individuals charged with felony drug crimes — and property crimes motivated by addiction — the opportunity for substance use disorder and mental health treatment, access to other services such as housing, transportation and job skills training, and an opportunity for felony dismissal. …
Today, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed charges of Murder in the Second Degree (Felony Murder) and Felony Hit and Run (Death — Driving) against a 15-year-old girl accused of killing a Maple Valley man last July.
There have been questions about why we have not charged this 15-year-old as an adult. That is not a legal option at this point. Because she was 15 at the time of the incident, she is not subject to automatic adult court jurisdiction. Any decision to transfer this matter to adult court would be up to a juvenile court judge. Given the…
Yesterday there were first appearance hearings for two men alleged to be involved in this Renton Police investigation.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office asked a judge to set bail at $1 million for the first defendant, and $250,000 for the second.
We argued that both men are a danger to the community and unlikely to reappear for scheduled court dates if released.
The judge set bail at $50,000 for both defendants.
For the first defendant, probable cause was found for a drive-by and first-degree unlawful gun possession. For the second defendant, probable cause was found for a drive-by and eluding police.
We anticipate getting the case referred by police today for an independent review and charging decision.
This post, published on September 10, 2021, is not expected to be updated.
Each day, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office files roughly 25 felony cases in King County. Our office handles felony-level crimes — which are the more serious crimes committed in King County — while City Attorneys’ offices handle most misdemeanors. Below is a one-day example of the felony cases filed by our office from September 6, 2021; it includes assaults, burglaries, and organized retail theft.
We want the public to know the kinds of cases we’re consistently filing, and we are confident we can prove each of these cases beyond a reasonable doubt before a jury. …
On August 27, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office participated in a resentencing hearing under SB 5164; filing a motion to resentence Mr. Gregory Steen, who was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole (LWOP) — but no longer should be based on recent changes to the law.
This was our 13th successful LWOP resentencing since June.
“I’m sorry to the victims of the crimes I committed. I feel a deep sense of remorse, not only for that behavior but for the life that I led,” said Mr. Steen. “I involved myself…
A man who stabbed to death the mother of his child in front of their 5-year-old son was sentenced Thursday to nearly 39 years in prison.
“This was a horrendous, evil, grotesque crime with many, many victims,” King County Superior Court Judge Michael Scott said of the stabbing death inside the Seattle Center’s food and event hall. “This is among the most serious offenses we can conceive of.”
Horrified witnesses saw and heard what took place the afternoon of November 2, 2018. …
This afternoon there was a first appearance for a defendant who also was charged in April for a hate crime involving her neighbor.
This morning, sheriff’s deputies sent our office information about their investigation into a felony violation of a no-contact order that occurred yesterday evening. We are able to take action when investigators send information to our office, and we acted promptly after receiving this information today.
At this afternoon’s first appearance, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office asked a judge to hold the defendant in jail on $25,000 bail arguing she is a danger to the community based…
Today, around 300 King County Employees, labor leaders, community members and allies rallied at the King County Administration building with a demand for immediate improvements to workplace safety.
Speakers from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office included Darrah Hinton (Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and President of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Association), Mary Laskowski (KCPAO Training & Outreach Coordinator), Manka Dhingra (WA State Senator, 45th Legislative District and Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney), and Amy Freedheim (Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney).
“This rally is about workplace safety, it is not blaming our houseless and permanently and excluded members of the community who…
Since last Friday, our office successfully resentenced four individuals under SB 5164, filing motions to resentence Mr. Michael Peters (Case # 00–1–10284–1), Mr. Rene Haydel (Case #99–1–05616–3), Mr. Raymond Ben (Case #00–1–02907–8), and Mr. Gregory Nelson (Case # 99–1–03487–9). Each man was serving a life sentence — but no longer should be based on recent statewide changes to the law. In each case, the men, who already served more than 20 years of a life sentence on a Robbery 2 charge, were resentenced to time served.
“There are still people from King County who are serving a life sentence even…
Today there was a first appearance for a man accused of throwing rocks and debris onto I-90. The defendant was arrested early Sunday morning by the State Patrol.
According to the State Patrol investigation, rocks thrown onto I-90 have resulted in “ thousands of dollars worth of damage to vehicles, and several injuries, including a disfiguring injury to the face.”
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office argued that the man was a danger to the community and asked that he be held on $100,000 bail. The judge set bail at $100,000 and found probable cause for second-degree attempted assault.
This post, published the afternoon of June 21, 2021, is not expected to be updated.
