Regardless of the fact that prosecutors failed to heed Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act (“KWWA”), a criminal case in Snohomish County will continue moving forward. The defendant is charged with vehicular homicide for the death of a state trooper, whose patrol car was struck by the Defendant’s vehicle traveling over 100 mph. At the time of his arrest, the Defendant was put under ICE detention for being in our country illegally. The issue raised by the Defendant’s defense attorney was that the prosecutor’s office improperly communicated with ICE (because she: (1) asked ICE to send its charging document, as it could possibly help with bail proceedings, and (2) sent ICE notice of the bail order) and hence tainted evidence in the case. The prosecutor’s office admitted improper communication with ICE but alleged that the staff member was not familiar with KWWA. Regardless, they argued they did not violate the KWWA because: (1) the language of the act applies to state and local law enforcement agencies, not prosecutors, and (2) the Defendant was not lured into committing crime by the staffer’s actions. The Defense countered that because the prosecutor office’s actions were improper, the Defendant’s rights to a fair trial have been prejudiced. The court found that the misconduct alone did not prejudice the Defendant’s rights. The proceedings against the Defendant shall thus resume.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of criminal allegations, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.