From The Seattle Times:

Without saying a word, the teenager accused in a two-year string of sometimes shoeless burglaries and other crimes that helped him gain international notoriety as the “Barefoot Bandit” agreed Friday to return to Washington state to face federal charges.

Hector Dopico, an assistant federal public defender temporarily representing 19-year-old Colton Harris-Moore, told a federal judge that Harris-Moore waived his right to a hearing on whether he should be transferred to Seattle. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Dube said Harris-Moore would be handed over to the U.S. Marshals Service, which will handle his travel in the coming days.

Dopico also said he had been in contact with an attorney who will represent Harris-Moore in Seattle, but he did not name that lawyer. Harris-Moore’s mother has asked Seattle defense attorney John Henry Browne to represent her son.

As a Lynnwood DUI Attorney, I’ll be following this story closely. I’ve seen Mr. Browne in action before, and am impressed with his ability to nab high profile cases. But let’s not forget that Colton Harris-Moore is not a hero. He’s a kid. With problems. And a HUGE criminal fight on his hands. Let’s hope Mr. Browne is up to the task.

More as the story develops.

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Normally I would leave something of this type to my good friend Aaron Pelley, who houses the Criminal Defense Law with an Apple blog over at his site. I’m sure he’ll weigh in on this, but I had to get my $0.02 in. Before going into this, it should be known that I created an entirely Mac Based law office for myself.

Like most technophiles, I waited with baited breath for Steve to unveil the iPad today at the Apple media event. And like many, I have mixed emotions. I like the concept of an on the go tablet that is easier to deal with than a MacBook, and yet more powerful than my iPhone. I love that it’ll have an iWork suite available, and that Keynote will run natively. I can easily bring presentations with me wherever I go. With the 30-pin connector, I can likely connect the tablet easily to a projector and give closing arguments to a jury with ease and appear totally techno-savvy.

Think of this – I scan every single doc for every single file. If I can use the iPad as a hard disk – I can put my video, photo, and pdf files for ANY case on it at ANY time. Sure I can do the same thing with my MacBook Pro, but it’s lighter and smaller. Not to mention the cool factor.

That being said – the iPad lacked one key feature I’d like and that’s multitasking. With the iPhone it’s no big deal. How many apps can I run on that screen at a time.

But to not have it on the iPad is a problem. Hopefully one Apple will fix quickly. Because to be able to have my entire trial file at a fingertips touch – to be able to manipulate photos or NHTSA manuals on the fly – and also have a note app open so I can take notes on what the officer bungled – now there’s a winner, and I’d already have one pre-ordered.

If you want to work with a lawyer who stays ahead of the curve in the technology of criminal defense, and is always looking for new ways to make his presentation style that much more effective, call Lynnwood DUI Attorney Jonathan Dichter at 425-424-9401 for your Free Consultation!

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However – we want our officers to be honest, reliable, trustworthy, and able to show restraint – especially as it relates to injuring suspects.

At least that’s what I thought. Meet Officer Eric Werner.

From The Seattle Times:

A Seattle police officer fired for dishonesty will get his job back, along with back pay, after the city’s Public Civil Service Commission ruled that termination was too harsh.

Officer Eric Werner, 31, instead faces a 30-day suspension, which he has already served since being fired in May.

Werner maintained he forgot about punching an agitated man when he was initially questioned in 2007 by Seattle police during an investigation into the man’s complaint that he was repeatedly tazed.

Werner, during testimony last year before the commission, said he later remembered striking the man and decided to come clean while applying for a job with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office in May 2008. The hiring process included polygraph examinations.

The Sheriff’s Office didn’t hire Werner. But they notified the Seattle Police Department of his disclosure and, after an internal investigation, he was fired last May by Interim Police Chief John Diaz for violating the department’s honesty policy.

Werner appealed his firing in what was viewed as a key test of the honesty policy, which presumes officers will be fired for dishonesty in their official duties and was a cornerstone of new rules adopted in 2008 to address community concerns about police accountability.

Though the city and the Police Department could appeal the commission’s ruling in King County Superior Court, such a move is extremely rare.

“The City Attorney’s Office is analyzing the decision, and considering whether to appeal. No decision has been made yet,” a spokeswoman for City Attorney Peter Holmes wrote in an e-mail today.

However, Werner’s name has now been added to the so-called “Brady list,” a list kept by the King County Prosecutor’s Office of potential witnesses whose honesty has been called into question, said spokesman Dan Donohoe. Most of the 52 names on the list are law-enforcement officers, though the list also includes State Patrol crime-lab employees and a former death investigator with the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, he said.

The Prosecutor’s Office will be required to notify defense attorneys whenever Werner is called to testify against a criminal defendant, Donohoe said.

Okay – I’m not sure what we as citizens should be more outraged at. This guy “forgot” that he PUNCHED a subject who was being interviewed for complaining that he was TAZED too many times. Except that he didn’t “forget”. If he had, then he wouldn’t have “come clean”. Let’s face it folks – he lied. So now we have a lying cop back on the force. And not only did we let him back on – we PAID him for the “VACATION” he got by lying.

But wait – the outrage continues. There’s a 52 name LIST of lying cops and witnesses. And that’s JUST King County.

If you’ve found yourself on the wrong end of a dishonest cop, you need a criminal defense lawyer who’s unafraid to take on the police directly. Lynnwood Criminal Defense Lawyer Jonathan Dichter has been fighting to keep cops honest and protect your rights for seven years, and is happy to offer you a FREE CONSULTATION. Call him now at 425-424-9401.

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High BAC Amended: Through negotiation and skilled research of all possible issues in the case, Jonathan successfully obtained a plea bargain offer of Negligent Driving in the First Degree. His client originally had a DUI charge with a BAC above .160 (more than TWICE the legal limit!)

Felony DUI Dropped to Misdemeanor: Jonathan’s client was charged with felony DUI for a 5th recent offense, and was facing upwards of 7 years in prison. Jonathan found several significant legal mistakes, briefed them, explained them to the prosecutor, and obtained for his client an offer to amend his felony charge to a Gross Misdemeanor.

Domestic Violence Charge Dismissed: Through skilled negotiation and explanation of the weaknesses of the case to the prosecutor, Jonathan successfully convinced them to dismiss an Assault Domestic Violence charge against his client.

High BAC Amended: Again, through negotiation and skilled research of all possible issues in the case, Jonathan successfully obtained a plea bargain offer of Reckless Driving. His client originally had a DUI charge with a BAC above .180 (more than TWICE the legal limit!)

If you have been charged with any crime at all in the State of Washington, especially DUI or Domestic Violence, don’t hesitate – call Lynnwood Criminal Defense Attorney Jonathan Dichter for your FREE Consultation at 425-424-9401!

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Now, the Seattle PI is reporting a further problem with the WSP in general.

From the Seattle PI:

EVERETT, Wash. — A backlog at Washington State Patrol crime labs is holding up some Snohomish County cases, including police shootings.

State lab acting director Larry Hebert told The Everett Herald there’s a shortage of qualified technicians.

At least three officer-involved shootings in Snohomish County await test results from state labs. They include the deputies killing men in May near Granite Falls and on New Years Eve in Bothell and a Mill Creek officer firing Saturday at a suspect on I-5 who was not hit.

Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover says detectives have been told to expect delays of up to a year on ballistic evidence, but results can be speeded up for priority cases.

The bad news here is that your tax dollars are being wasted with these delays. I mean – a YEAR for ballistics? We’re talking about SHOOTINGS here.

The good news is that a skilled criminal defense attorney like Jonathan Dichter will be able to use this to his advantage in defending YOU with your case. Call him for your FREE CONSULTATION now at 425-424-9401!

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Oh the holidays are tough on unrequited love – but lest we forget that loving oneself is necessary, and in many cases easier. For sure it doesn’t involve criminal charges. However, Nathan Hulse thinks otherwise, as he’s been charged with making bomb threats towards a local Strip Club after a dancer rejected him – which apparently was a surprise to him.

From the Seattle Weekly:

“Remember the kid back in grade school who, after losing at Connect Four or the like, decided to throw a tantrum and destroy the game rather than allow any of his classmates their turn to play? That kid grew up to be Nathan Hulse.
King County prosecutors have charged Hulse with threatening to bomb a Seattle strip club after his romantic advances towards one of the employees were rejected.

According to court documents, the two had actually become friends, or as friendly with one another as the lap dance provider and lap dance consumer relationship allows.

Then last month the 29-year-old decided to inform the object of his desire that he had intentions beyond supplementing her clear heel budget. He was rebuffed. To cope, he did as the lovelorn have since the Internet was new and began sending her threatening electronic messages.

According to prosecutors, he wrote a series of communiques on a fetish website they both frequented. The first was a vaguely threatening message about his having acquired a cache of surface-to-air missiles.

“Recently traded with a gentleman, and have tested what he gave me, their destructive force is quite impressive,” he wrote.

But the second is where he really (forgive me) broke out the big guns.

“I’m gonna go to work tonight an insist she speak with me,” he allegedly wrote on November 24. “So it’s entirely possible I’ll just de pin my lucky grenade right then and there.”

Hulse was arrested at his home in Snohomish on November 25. A search failed to turn up any bomb-making material, but Hulse is currently being held at King County jail on $100,000 bond.”

Just a bad set of online decisions, which goes to show you – never post anything online you don’t want the whole world to read.

If you’ve made a mistake of epic proportions and want help out of criminal trouble – make sure you give a call to Lynnwood Criminal Defense Attorney Jonathan Dichter at 425-424-9401. He offers a FREE CONSULTATION – and is always happy to try to undo silly mistakes before they cost you everything.

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Over the holiday weekend, Snohomish County saw the worst fatality DUI accident we’ve seen in recent years. However, that’s only PART of the story.

A County Official, driving a county vehicle, arrived on scene to help, and ended up going home in cuffs.

From the Everett Herald:

“MARYSVILLE — A Snohomish County medical examiner’s investigator summoned to the drunken-driving crash that killed four people on Sunday was arrested at the scene and cited for driving under the influence, officials said.

When the investigator arrived at the scene on Highway 9 northeast of Marysville, a Washington State Patrol trooper smelled alcohol on the man’s breath and pulled him aside, trooper Keith Leary said.

The man, 48, of Seattle, had been driving a county-owned vehicle. He was arrested for investigation of drunken driving, cited and given a ride home, Leary said.

Sunday night’s crash was the deadliest drunken-driving accident in Snohomish County in recent memory, officials said.

The crime scene investigation was not compromised by the investigator’s arrest, Leary said.

“We have nothing but the utmost faith in the medical examiner’s office,” Leary said. Still, “We have to treat everyone the same when it comes to drinking and driving.”

The investigator has worked for the county for eight years, said Carolyn Sanden, deputy director of the medical examiner’s office.

“We really are very careful when we hire and we take pride in our people, so this is shocking and unacceptable,” Sanden said. “He’s an excellent investigator. In terms of knowing his stuff, he’s seasoned.”

The man has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the State Patrol investigation. The medical examiner’s office is conducting an internal investigation as well.

The investigator was on call when the deadly crash occurred, Sanden said. He called for backup because of the magnitude of the crash scene. Two other investigators took over after his arrest.”

Count this among the lessons to be learned.

ANYONE CAN GET A DUI.

If you’ve found yourself charged with a DUI, Vehicular Assault, Vehicular Homicide, or related charge, you owe it to yourself to get the best possible representation available. Lynnwood DUI Attorney Jonathan Dichter offers free consultations! Call him now at 425-424-9401 and start working to minimize the consequences of your case.

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From The Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

“Felony drug charges were filed, a deal was struck and Zugsberger ultimately pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession. Zugsberger was freed on three-months probation.

His marijuana, though, remained in custody.

At issue, attorneys for both sides allowed, was the variance in medical marijuana laws between the two states. While California and Washington both allow the medical use of marijuana, Washington allows patients to possess 1 ½-pounds pot while California permits them five pounds.

Late last month, Zugsberger’s defense attorney Aaron Pelley filed a petition with King County Superior Court demanding that the pot be returned to Zugsberger. In a compromise, Pelley said, the judge ruled that Zugsberger would be returned his marijuana in 1 ½-pound portions at seven-day increments.

“To my knowledge, it was the first time anyone has asked for their marijuana back,” said Pelley, who is active with the marijuana-law reform organization Cannabis Defense Coalition. “It’s the weirdest case I’ve ever dealt.”

Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff to King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, said prosecutors argued against the immediate return of Zugsberger’s full load of pot in part because doing so would violate state law.

“Although Mr. Zugsberger had valid documentation from the state of California, he had far more marijuana than what state law allows,” Goodhew said. “When he asked for his marijuana back, our department asked the court to follow Washington state law and the department of health guidelines.”"

Aaron Pelley did a masterful job getting the courts to return all of Mr. Zugsberger’s marijuana. If you have a criminal charge in Seattle, Mr. Pelley is not only a rising star in our community, but a great friend to have.

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From the Edmonds Beacon:

“Snohomish County Superior Court Presiding Judge Larry McKeeman and Prosecuting Attorney Janice Ellis, are pleased to announce that Snohomish County has received notice from the Attorney General Eric Holder that the grant submitted on behalf of the Superior Court’s Problem Solving Courts has been granted in full.

This funding began August 1, 2009 for the next two years and will impact the Courts ability to take the At Risk Youth, Adult Offender, Juvenile Offender and Family Dependency drug treatment courts to a new level of service, accountability and efficiency.

This grant was made possible through the Department of Justice’s Recovery Act to fund the Comprehensive Drug Treatment Court Sustainability Project (CDTCSP).

The primary goal of this project is to enhance drug court service to match Snohomish County’s current needs.

Grant funds will be used to: hire and retain 12 program staff, including a Juvenile Probation Counselor, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, legal Secretary, Judicial Coordinator, Drug Court Coordinators (Adult, Family and Juvenile), Program Manager, Grant Accountant, Juvenile Community Corrections Officer, Senior Drug Court Coordinator, and Community/Education Program Specialist.

This funding also allows the Court to increase the number of participants in the drug court program; enhance the family drug court and develop and implement a plan for statistical analysis and strategies related to best practices to track case outcomes; as well as implement the Moral Reconciliation Therapy program in the adult drug court.”

If you’ve found yourself charged with a criminal offense in Snohomish County, Drug Court may be an option for you. If not – there may be a variety of alternatives to jail for you. You need a defense attorney who will fight for you and be on your side as you navigate the system. Everett Area Criminal Defense Attorney Jonathan Dichter offers you a FREE consultation on your cases, and will happily discuss for you any methods of getting you through the process easily and with great results!

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From the Everett Herald

“EVERETT — A Lake Stevens man is accused of committing as many as 30 armed robberies in Snohomish and King counties.

Brandon J. Smith, 24, told investigators he robbed tanning salons, adult video stores and gas stations to feed a $300-a-day drug habit, court papers said. Smith said he was addicted to Oxycontin, a strong prescription pain killer.

Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Craig Matheson on Friday charged Smith with 10 counts of first-degree robbery. Smith is being held in the county jail on $1.5 million bail.

The crime spree began in July, about a month after Smith was fired from his longtime job at Nintendo for theft, Matheson wrote.

Smith used the same method in his robberies, court papers said. He allegedly entered a business, looked around to make sure there were no customers and then feigned interest in the business’ services or asked for change. He’d pull out a gun, point it at the employee and then demand money, Matheson wrote.

He told investigators he never used a real handgun because he was concerned that if he was caught he’d get more prison time for having used a weapon in the commission of a crime. He also told detectives that he would get rid of the clothing he was wearing after each robbery. He said he was running out of clothes, Matheson wrote.”

Is drug addiction and losing your job an excuse for robbery? Of course not. Is it a DEFENSE though? Well that depends on the nature of the addiction and your mental status during the robberies. It’s important in any case to make sure that you consult fully with a criminal attorney well versed in mental state as well as the general defenses. Although it sounds like Mr. Smith made a variety of statements that may preclude a real defense for him.

A great tip is not to talk to the police without an attorney present. Lynnwood area criminal attorney Jonathan Dichter is always ready to go to interviews with you, help you during interrogations, and to protect your rights both before and after you’ve been charged. Call him for your free consultation.

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