King County Prosecuting Attorney’s 21 in ‘21

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

13 min readDec 29, 2021

As we close out an eventful year, we look back on 21 meaningful moments and milestones from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO). Our mission is to do justice, and in 2021 we prosecuted cases of extreme violence, helped rewrite state laws to advance justice reform, and built new systems and capacity to address the historic COVID-caused court backlog.

Learn more about the PAO on our website and blog.

Launched a PAO Data Dashboard — first of its kind in Washington State.

In March, the PAO launched a first-of-its-kind data dashboard that provides public access to data regarding the types of crimes referred to our office and the cases filed in King County. Leading up to launch, we partnered with a number community groups, criminal justice system partners, and academic experts to gain an understanding of their needs and concerns, which informed data collection methods and the development of the dashboard. The dashboard offers insight into how KCPAO is making progress in justice reform efforts with a focus on public safety, and we’ve continued to add new features including information about persons in custody, the average age of our cases, and more.

#2 Taking action to address the court backlog caused by COVID.

As prosecutors’ offices around the country contend with criminal case backlogs, the PAO took steps to address the problem in King County. The PAO developed creative solutions to stretch our existing resources: tapping support from our three other divisions to pitch in on criminal cases, engaging with defense and the courts, and developing innovative ways to resolve cases (i.e. diversion programs). King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg also went before King County Council multiple times to explain the historic backlog of criminal cases caused by COVID, and advocate for additional resources to help the PAO and the criminal justice system dig out of the COVID backlog. We immediately put those resources to good use by hiring additional temporary attorneys and staff to increase our capacity. As a result, the number of open cases is starting to come down, and while we continue to address the backlog, we will remain laser focused on prioritizing repeat offenders and serious acts of violence.

Expanded hate crime outreach and filed 53 cases involving hate crime charges.

Our growing hate crime team engaged in direct outreach to help community partners and underrepresented communities understand how to report bias-motivated crimes. Our outreach team presented both to law enforcement agencies — to help police investigators identify what is a hate crime — and to community groups. King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg and King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn also put forward a proposal in March that would create a Hate Crimes Task Force and dedicate two deputy prosecuting attorneys to work exclusively on hate crimes. Through December 1, our office filed 53 cases involving a hate crime.

Passed legislation to resentence people who are serving a life sentence — but shouldn’t be based on recent changes to the law.

On February 1, King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg testified in support of Senate Bill 5164 — which was later signed into law — which requires the resentencing of people serving a three-strikes, life-without-parole sentence where second-degree robbery is included as a strike. In 2020, state lawmakers removed second-degree robbery from the list of three strikes offenses. It was the lowest crime on the list of persistent offenses and the most racially disproportionate. Despite the fact that second degree robbery is no longer counted as a strike under Washington law, there were still people serving a life sentence in King County due to such a conviction. Prosecutor Satterberg not only spoke on behalf of our office, but also on behalf of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

#5 First & second people in Washington State resentenced under SB 5164

In May and June, the PAO’s Sentence Review Unit resentenced the first and second people in the state under SB 5164, making King County the first to put this bill into action in Washington. The second person who was resentenced was Russell Harvey, who was given a life sentence for three counts of Robbery 2. Mr. Harvey had demonstrated positive conduct in prison, where he had already served 24 years. After hearing from the State, Mr. Harvey’s defense counsel, and supporters, the Court moved to reduce Mr. Harvey’s sentence to time served — which is already more than triple the standard range sentence for a Robbery 2 — and release him immediately. Mr. Harvey was 60 years old at the time of his release. Read more about Mr. Harvey’s resentencing in the Seattle Times: “He was sentenced to life for a string of robberies in Seattle. A new state law paved the way for his release.” Since May, our office has resentenced 23 people who were serving a life sentence based on a second degree robbery conviction.

Continued reforming the juvenile justice system — diverting more cases than we filed through the traditional court system for the third year in a row.

In 2019, for the first time ever, our office diverted more juvenile cases than we filed through the court system. This critical milestone — which continued in 2020 and 2021 — marks a tipping point in how juvenile cases are handled by our office, where we seek to emphasize restorative approaches over traditional punitive responses. These efforts have contributed to significantly fewer King County youth in secure detention, which decreased from a high of 205 in 2000 to an historic low of 22 in 2021.

62 murder and manslaughter charges filed.

Our Most Dangerous Offenders Project unit has been hard at work responding to a high level of violence in the community this year. The team is on call 24 hours a day, responding to homicides and attempted homicides by going directly to crime scenes. As of December 12, the team had responded to 135 of these calls compared to 144 in 2020 and 90 in 2019. 62 murder and manslaughter charges were filed through December 1.

#8 Helped pass legislation making Washington the first state to provide forensic nurse examiners to victims of domestic violence strangulation.

The PAO advocated for the passage of SB 5183, which requires forensic nurse examiners to be provided to victims of domestic violence strangulation. A person who suffers from nonfatal strangulation is 750% more likely to become a homicide victim and these crimes can be hard to prosecute as they mostly happen behind closed doors. There is a need to rely on evidence and the strangulation may not leave any marks to the untrained eye, and medical exams are the best way to hold abusers accountable. In 2018, in King County alone there were 323 known cases of strangulation, 64 of which were treated in the hospital and only 4 received a forensic exam because it also involved a sexual assault. This bill aims to change those numbers for the better so that every victim of domestic violence strangulation has access to a forensic nurse examiner.

During a rise in gun violence, our data analysis informed King County where gun violence is happening and who is most at risk.

In 2017, Dan Satterberg partnered with Public Health — Seattle & King County in launching the Shots Fired Project — aimed at uniformly collecting and standardizing data on illegal shootings in King County. Each quarter, including in 2021, we release data reports which are considered the most comprehensive firearm violence analyses available in King County. These reports help inform prevention and intervention strategies designed to reach individuals the data suggests are most at risk of firearm violence victimization. While we will continue to prosecute the perpetrators of firearm violence, we recognize that a broader, public health approach is required to achieve lasting reductions of firearm violence.

#10

Every month in 2021, Drug Court participants graduated on a path to recovery.

King County Drug Diversion Court 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. Eligible defendants can elect to participate in the program or proceed with traditional court processing. Every month, our office — along with judges, family members and friends, and case managers — celebrates a new group of graduates, many of whom say Drug Diversion Court was a turning point. Since the start of the pandemic, many Drug Court services have transitioned to remote operation, including graduations which recognize participants for their hard work. Watch the entire September 2021 Drug Court Graduation Ceremony HERE.

#11

Joined community partners to get the word out about domestic violence data and resources.

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, we shared updates on our domestic violence work and how the public can get help. In October, our office also hosted the annual Domestic Violence Symposium, which promotes innovative thinking for prosecution, law enforcement, civil and family law attorneys, advocates, judges, law students, social workers and child welfare professionals, corrections, mental health/healthcare professionals and others responding to survivors of gender-based/domestic violence. Between January 1, 2021 and October 1, 2021, the Regional Domestic Violence Firearms Enforcement Unit (RDVFEU) recovered 431 firearms, and reviewed 1186 civil protection orders with Orders to Surrender and Prohibit Weapons to determine whether there were any allegations of firearms. Unit prosecutors also assisted on 52 Extreme Risk Protection Orders, intervening to remove firearms before a firearm tragedy can occur.

#12

Expanded advocacy and resources for victims of crime.

As of October 2021, the PAO’s Protection Order Advocates had responded to 6,734 service inquiries and crisis triage calls, and we had already support 1780 intimate partner violence victims. In July, all protection order hearings transition from phone to zoom, complimenting our remote protection order program which empowers people who need emergency protection against a domestic abuser to file entirely online at protectionorder.org. The PAO also increased advocacy services to our pre-filing advocacy, by calling on our non-rush filings. By having victim information before making filing decisions our office can make more informed decisions around which cases should be filed.

#13

Protecting seniors from individuals who target older adults.

Taking action to protect seniors, the PAO filed 24 elder abuse cases in 2021 against individuals targeting senior citizens. That includes charges against prolific offenders, like this individual who was accused of targeting multiple senior women and men in a scam involving vehicles.

#14

Helped launch Regional Racing Task Force to crack down on illegal street racing.

In May, the PAO helped launch the Regional Racing Task Force to place a special emphasis on illegal street racing and drifting. These events are incredibly dangerous, and in October we took steps to hold an event organizer accountable. In a press conference with the Washington State Patrol, Kent Police Department, and Auburn Police Department, we announced the arrest and charging of an individual who organized multiple racing events — one of which resulted in the death of two young women. The nature of these charges — which reflect the defendant’s role in organizing the event (he was not the driver) are unique, and the first we are aware of from the PAO.

#15

Getting fentanyl dealers off the streets to stop drug overdose.

This year the PAO filed charges against multiple fentanyl dealers, including an individual found with 7,000 fentanyl pills in Seattle and another from Bellevue who was charged a controlled substance homicide related to drug dealing that led to the death of a 26-year-old woman. As of December, we’ve charged 157 total drug dealing cases and 3 controlled substance homicides.

#16 Pushing for an increase in public health approaches and treatment for individuals suffering from substance use disorder.

King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg urged the Washington State Legislature to make investments in programs that specialize in retreatment and recovery, and our Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program liaison participated in the launch of a new resource manual that gives prosecutors tools for increasing public health approaches to criminal cases that stem from drug use.

#17

35 charges filed involving internet crimes against children.

Through December 1, our office filed 35 cases involving internet crimes against children. Those totals include four crime types: Dealing in depictions of a minor in sexually explicit conduct, possessing that material, sending or bringing that content into the state, or viewing depictions of a minor in sexually explicit conduct.

#18 Expanded gun violence prevention and intervention community partnerships.

In 2021, Satterberg advocated for a $2 million gun violence prevention grant program through King County Council to fund community-based violence interruption work. Our office is partnering with several organizations to deploy community-based intervention and prevention responses to firearm violence. CHOOSE Freedom, a program in partnership with CHOOSE 180, utilizes our Shots Fired data to prioritize community engagement with those most at risk of firearm violence victimization between the ages of 18–24. In addition, BRAVE, a program in partnership with Highline School District, the YMCA of Greater Seattle, and the City of Burien, prioritizes engagement with youth within the Highline School District who may be at risk of firearm violence victimization. Our office also supports the work of the King County Regional Approach to Gun Violence, which is led by Seattle-King County Public Health/Zero Youth Detention.

#19 Quickly responding to the impacts of State v. Blake.

In February of 2021, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled the simple possession of drugs unconstitutional, which created a massive impact for defendants and the justice system as a whole. The PAO posted a webpage that provides information for those seeking vacation, victims of crime, and directs individuals to the Department of Public Defense for legal advice. By June we had dismissed and quashed over 600 outstanding possession warrants to avoid people getting arrested on these charges, starting with the most recent warrants and working our way back in time through the decades of warrants. Because drug possession points no longer count in an offender score, there are a number of cases that will need resentencing. We gave priority to those requests from individuals currently in custody who are likely to be released within the next 0–180 days based upon a change to their offender score and sentencing range, and are also prioritizing individuals with active or inactive DOC supervision.

#20 Charging cases each and everyday to hold people accountable and keep the public safe.

Charges filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office are public, and each day our office files roughly 25 felony cases. Our office handles felony-level crimes — which are the more serious crimes committed in King County — while City Attorneys’ offices handle most misdemeanors. We periodically compile and share a rundown of all the charges filed in a single day because we want people to see the full details of our work, which can’t be summarized in a tweet or in a Facebook post. Before a case is filed, it is reviewed thoughtfully — and independently — by multiple prosecutors. That same thoughtful eye continues through the course of the case. Our Director of Victim Services, as part of our Victim Assistance Unit, also works daily alongside our Victim Advocates to support crime victims and families. Here’s a few examples of our daily case filings posted on our blog:

· Superior Court Charges Filed — November 17, 2021

· Felony Cases Filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office — Sept 6, 2021

· A look at the King County murder cases filed in 2021 — April 29, 2021

· A look at the felony cases filed by the KCPAO — April 14, 2021

· A look at the felony cases filed by the KCPAO — April 2, 2021

· A look at the felony cases filed daily by the KCPAO — March 24, 2021

#21

Working with media to answer the public’s questions.

We value the work of the media — through daily emails, phone calls, and public disclosure requests. We will continue to be accountable, and plan to expand interview opportunities with various parts of our office even further in 2022.

Here are the few of the articles this year from media in King County:

· The Appeal: RESENTENCING UNITS CAN RECTIFY, REHABILITATE, AND RESTORE

· Associated Press: Felony case backlog doubles due to virus in Seattle area

· Bellingham Herald: Mom arrested in baby’s death 23 years later, thanks to DNA genealogy site, WA cops say

· Bellevue Reporter: King County Council OKs millions for courts overwhelmed by pandemic backlog

· B-Town Blog: Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charges suspect with Vehicular Homicide, Hit & Run for fatal Burien collision

· B-Town Blog: SCAM ALERT: King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office warns of new scam phone call

· iLoveKent: Renton man arrested, charged with murder in fatal Kent shooting

· iLoveKent: Arrest made, charges filed in Auburn street racing investigation

· Kent Reporter: King County prosecutor, council member propose hate crimes task force

· Kent Reporter: Kent man charged with murder after man fatally shot, left in ditch near Auburn

· KING 5: What can be considered a hate crime? King County investigators, prosecutors weigh in