Personal Injury and Criminal Defense Legal Blog

Anti-Semitic rants cause taxiing plane to return to gate

A man accused of yelling “I want to kill all the Jews” on a Detroit-bound plane at Miami International Airport caused the plane to return to its gate. The man was arrested at the terminal and charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and threatening a public servant. He plead guilty to all charges and received three years of probation. Additionally, due to forcing the Northwest Airlines plane to return to the gate as it was beginning takeoff, he is required to pay restitution in the amount of $27,500, and possibly present for psychiatric evaluation and follow-up treatment. He is also banned from airplane and rail mass transit. This appears to have been a very good agreement for the defendant worked out by his lawyer, as he faced more than 11 years in prison if convicted by a jury on all the charges.

King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office Declines Charging Excessive Medical Marijuana Grow

The King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg declined to file criminal charges against a former Seattle man who police said had more plants at his community medical-marijuana garden than state law allows.

Mark Spohn called Seattle police on May 26 after four armed men, posing as FBI agents, entered his house and stole some of the recently harvested marijuana plants growing at his home garden. Seattle police allege they discovered more than 100 additional plants, which he was growing for himself and other authorized medical-marijuana patients, according to court paperwork. Police seized the bulk of what they found, leaving 15 plants, the state Department of Health’s limit for an individual medical-marijuana patient. Satterberg said there is no specific state law when it comes to community gardens. The law neither permits nor prohibits a collective [medical marijuana] operation,” Satterberg said, adding that he is not “obligated to prosecute people because they have a few plants too many.”

According to the memo announcing the prosecutor’s decision to not file charges, the law doesn’t “explicitly address how marijuana should be manufactured by a provider in a legal manner or how it should be distributed to patients.” “Chief among these ambiguities is the question of whether or not an authorized provider of marijuana is allowed to provide for more than one patient over a period of time,” the memo says. “The statute is simply unclear as to whether such activity is prohibited or not.” Satterberg went on to say his decision in Mr. Spohn’s case doesn’t mean anyone running an allegedly excessive medical-marijuana community garden will avoid prosecution. He said that each case will be reviewed individually; although in the past seven years, the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has had more than three dozen similar cases referred to his office and has declined charges in all of them. “I don’t want to prosecute sick people,” Satterberg said. “If this is a legitimate medicine we should treat it like a legitimate medicine. It seems that if patients want to band together and share their time and authorizations they should be allowed to do that.”

In 2008, the Department of Health set supply limit guidelines for medical marijuana at 24 ounces of usable marijuana plus 15 plants per person. Those who need more marijuana to manage their pain, according to the Department of Health, would have to prove they need it — though how they would do that remains unclear. The Department of Health says that “a designated provider must be at least 18 years old and must be designated in writing by the qualifying patient.” It also says a designated provider “can only be a provider for one patient at any one time.”

Satterberg said that marijuana possession is a low-ranking offense according to state felony guidelines, three convictions could leave a defendant spending less than six months in jail. Satterberg, whose office has 55 open murder cases, says he has “more important things do” than charge marijuana-possession cases. Seattle’s new City Attorney Pete Holmes has stopped charging people with misdemeanor pot possession, which is less than 40 grams.

Source: Seattle Times

The FBI among other law enforcement agencies serving numerous search and arrest warrants in the Tacoma, Washington State Area.

In the early morning hours of February 9, 2010, the FBI, the South Puget Sound Gang Task Force and the Tacoma Police Department began their attempt at cleaning up the streets of Tacoma, making it a safer place for families and the community as a whole. Numerous search and arrest warrants targeting over 30 alleged members of the Hilltop Crips street gang were issued and served.

Several arrests have been made and law enforcement continues to work diligently. The individuals targeted in the warrants are alleged to have committed attempted murder, home invasions and carjackings. According to a news release from the Tacoma Police Department and FBI, it is expected that 32 people will initially be charged with a total of 51 crimes associated with 22 specific incidents.

All those who are arrested Tuesday will appear Wednesday for their arraignment at the Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma.

Additional details will be provided by Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, The Tacoma Police, and The FBI at a news conference following Wednesday’s arraignments.

Source: NWSource

A Washington based soldier has been charged with domestic violence assault based on allegations of abusing 4-year-old over alphabet lesson

A Washington based soldier has been charged with domestic violence assault after he allegedly held his 4-year-old daughter underwater because she couldn’t recite the alphabet. The prosecution has alleged in charging documents that the defendant’s actions amount to torture.

On January 31, 2010, the defendant, Joshua Tabor, was arguing with his girlfriend when she called the police. When Officers arrived on the scene, she notified them of a history of assault between Mr. Tabor and his daughter. Officers found the young child hiding in a locked bathroom. Reports indicate she appeared to have suffered severely physical abuse.

When officers arrived, Tabor’s girlfriend told them that she and Tabor, 27, had just had an argument and that he beats his daughter, said Yelm Police Chief Todd Stancil. Officers found the girl hiding in a locked bathroom and covered with extensive bruises all over her body, including her ears.

“Once she spoke to officers, she was articulate and told us right away, ‘Daddy did this,’ ” Yelm Police Chief Todd Stancil said. The girl told officers that her father hits her, and she also said he would fill a sink, lay her on her back and put her head into the water until the water was up to her eyes, Stancil said.

According to Stancil and charging papers, the defendant admitted to holding his daughter under water as an educational tool. “He felt she was academically behind for her age, and it was his way of trying to get her to learn,” Stancil said. Reports indicate the defendant felt his actions were justified and an acceptable way of parenting. Prosecutors also allege the defendant would force his daughter to sit in urine-soaked clothes “until he gives her permission to change” as punishment for wetting herself. Tabor is restricted to the Joint Base Lewis-McChord base during the investigation, Stancil said. The defendant is to appear in Thurston County Superior Court on Feb. 16 for arraignment.

Stancil said the defendant’s girlfriend may additionally be charged in the case. “How can something go on for a month and a half and [she] not know anything about it?” he said.

Regarding the child’s well-being, Child Protective Services were notified and a foster family had been given temporary custody. The girl was quickly taken to a hospital to rule out any serious injuries. She is currently residing with her grandmother in Montana.

Source : Seattle Times

Website Blunder Could Lead to White Collar Crime in Pierce County

A website in Pierce County was recently shut down for providing too much information to the general public. According to a KIRO-TV article, the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department shut the site down after receiving information that county residents who have had septic tank work done at their homes were at risk of having personal information, namely credit card numbers, available in plain view on the website for anyone to see. The website had been used by homeowners, real estate agents, and contractors as a means of learning whether or not a particular property had its septic service worked on.

At this point, the website remains shut down until the Pierce County Health Department combs through pages and pages of data to delete personal credit information that should not have been made available to the general public in the first place. While no criminal charges have been sought at this point against any individuals who may have come across the personal information, cases of white collar crime in the state of Washington can ruin more than a victim’s credit score and financial well-being.

That is, individuals accused of white collar crime can often be saddled with a stigma that may prevent them from acquiring employment, or could cause those individuals to lose professional licenses to practice their professions. In the event that an individual is accused of a white collar crime in Seattle, that individual’s best course of action is retaining the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney who will examine every detail surrounding that individual’s arrest.

At McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC, our Seattle white collar defense attorneys understand how intimidating facing criminal charges may be. It is important for you to be aware of all your legal rights and we will fight to ensure that those rights are not infringed upon in a court of law. If you have been accused of a white collar crime, don’t hesitate to contact our skilled Seattle defense attorneys as soon as possible. Please call us today at 888-282-6977 for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.

Source:http://www.kirotv.com/money/21966248/detail.html

Hate Crimes on the Rise in US According to FBI

According to an AFP article, the number of hate crimes that occurred in the United States in 2008 rose slightly from figures recorded in 2007. That is, there were nearly 9,700 hate crimes in the U.S. in 2008 compared to 9,500 that occurred in 2007. Reportedly, more than half the crimes committed in the U.S. were racially motivated, with 6,927 perpetrators having been identified in those crimes. The data, provided by the FBI’s annual report on the matter, comes at the heels of the passing of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The Act is a bill that will expand the criteria for which an act is considered a hate crime to include acts of violence motivated by biases against sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.

The majority of the reported hate crimes consisted of acts of intimidation or simple assault, although there were documented cases of murder and rape that did take place and fell into the category of a hate crime. While the FBI reasons that a two percent increase occurred with each successive year, human rights organizations argue that hate crimes increased more than four percent in 2008, and has risen by a total of 54% since the year 2000.

Hate crimes can take on a variety of forms. Consequently, the circumstances surrounding hate crimes are all different, and each case should be thoroughly examined on an individual. For hate crimes that occur in Seattle, the best defense against charges associated with such acts involves retaining the services of an experienced hate crime defense attorney that will fight to ensure that the rights of the accused are upheld in a court of law.

The aggressive and experienced Seattle criminal defense attorneys at McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC, will examine the circumstances surrounding your arrest, and will mount the strongest possible defense on your behalf given those circumstances. If you have been accused of a Seattle hate crime, don’t hesitate to contact our skilled defense attorneys as soon as possible. Please call us today at 888-282-6977 for a free and confidential evaluation of your Seattle defense case.

Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iOM3fJoqDlngnXxINrzhvB5rDqkg

Crime Rates in Seattle Higher than National Average

Recent FBI data shows that, while the number of rapes and murders occurring in Seattle is lower than the national average, all other instances of crime are more rampant in Seattle than they are nationally. Statistically, violent crimes pale in comparison to the number of property crimes committed against Seattle residents. In particular, instances of larceny and theft take place more often than any other type of crime.

Reportedly, the total number of violent crimes in Seattle is 1.15 times that of the national average. Property crimes, which include burglary, larceny/theft, car theft, and arson, were recorded to be 1.82 times the national average, with car theft inflating that number greatly being at a dismal 2.62 times the national average. Regardless of the type of crime that occurs in Seattle, all cases need to be carefully examined to ensure that the charges brought against an individual are not inaccurate.

Crime in Seattle is a problem, but individuals accused of crimes should not be deemed guilty even before they face trial. Innocent individuals are accused of crimes often, and the best way to combat such accusations is to retain the services of an experienced Seattle defense attorney that will fight to ensure that the rights of the accused are not infringed upon in a court of law.

At McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC, our Seattle violent offense attorneys will examine the circumstances surrounding your arrest, and will mount the strongest possible defense on your behalf given those circumstances. If you have been accused of any type of crime in Seattle, don’t hesitate to contact our office to assist you in your defense. Please call us today at 888-282-6977 for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.

Source:http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Seattle&state=WA

Newcastle Surgeon Supposedly Seeks Out Hit Man

A laser eye surgeon in Newcastle is being investigated for attempting to hire a hit-man, and has been charged with two counts of criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder. According to a Seattle Times article, the Newcastle man was arrested as he was leaving his gym, and was later released on $1 million bail. Reportedly, the suspected man had “complained bitterly” to police that his business partner was going to break ties with him, at which point the suspected man allegedly sought out the services of a hit-man to kill the business partner as well as another former colleague.

The article goes on to explain that the second business colleague was the former president of the accused man’s company, and that the former president was attempting to appeal his job termination. Supposedly, the accused Newcastle man wanted the former company president “eliminated.” All of the alleged information from prosecutors was provided by an informant whom the accused man supposedly asked to assist him in carrying out the hit man process.

Murder charges can be much more complicated than other charges brought against a person. The best course of action for any accused individual is to retain the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney that will examine every detail surrounding the individual’s arrest, and will provide the accused individual with the strongest possible defense given those circumstances.

At McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC, our skilled Seattle criminal defense attorneys will fight to ensure that your rights are not infringed upon in a court of law. If you have been accused of murder or conspiracy to commit murder in Seattle, don’t hesitate to contact our law offices today for information about your defense. Please call us today at 888-282-6977 for a free and confidential evaluation.

Source:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010282660_webmurderforhire16m.html

Phony Bellevue Cop Sentenced to Prison

A 28-year-old Bellevue man was recently sentenced to a minimum nine-year prison sentence for allegedly impersonating a police officer and forcing two young women to have sexual relations with him. According to the Baltimore Sun, the man pleaded guilty to second-degree rape, first-degree extortion, and first-degree criminal impersonation. The man is not a United States citizen, and will be deported once his prison sentence commences.

According to the report, the man contacted the two women, ages 18 and 19, through the popular website Craigslist.com, and allegedly informed one of the women that he could keep her out of jail if she agreed to have sexual relations with him once a week. The 28-year-old supposedly used a gun to coerce the two female victims into complying with his requests for sex. When he was arrested, authorities found a police badge, fake police identification, a pair of handcuffs, and a pistol.

Because of the nature of these charges, the man in the above mentioned article will face a parole hearing at the end of his minimum sentencing to determine whether or not he is to be deemed a dangerous sex offender. Sex crimes in Seattle are serious matters that require the assistance of experienced criminal defense attorneys. To ensure that the rights of the accused are not infringed upon, such counsel should be contacted immediately after charges are brought against an individual.

At McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC, our Seattle criminal defense lawyers will examine the circumstances surrounding your arrest, and will mount the strongest possible defense on your behalf given those circumstances. If you have been accused of a Seattle sex crime, don’t hesitate to contact our office to assist you in your defense. Please call us today at 888-282-6977 for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Source:http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/sns-200910312133mctnewsservbc-craigslist-fakecop-s,0,1032841.story

Increase in Crime Around UW Campus Fault of Students?

Newly admitted students to the University of Washington are being warned to stay on their guard and beware of dangerous crime situations that they may find themselves a part of during the beginning of the new school year. According to Komo News, crime levels have certainly risen at the University of Washington, with an increased number of crime alerts recently having been sent out to students and faculty of the university. According to campus police, the recent influx of crimes committed against students is not an indication that crime is getting worse, but simply an indication that there are more students present and potentially susceptible to instances of crime being committed against them.

According to Seattle police, an increase in the number of crime alerts sent out to members of the University of Washington community will do nothing but two things: either cause a panic amongst the UW community, or desensitize that community, potentially causing it to be less aware of, and more susceptible to, being a part of dangerous situations that could otherwise be avoided. If a panic does ensue, then such behavior will undoubtedly lead to more accusations against innocent individuals being made, simply because those individuals are in the wrong place at the wrong time, or don’t meet the stereotype of the type of person that is regularly in the area. If an individual finds him or herself falsely accused, then that individual’s best course of action should be to retain the services of a skilled criminal defense attorney that will examine the details of the arrest and charges, and mount the best possible defense on their behalf, given the circumstances of the case.

If you stand accused of a committing a crime in Seattle, don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Seattle criminal defense lawyers at McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC. Our skilled criminal defense lawyers will examine the details surrounding your arrest, and will build the best possible defense on your behalf given the circumstances of your case. Please call us today at 888-282-6977 for a free and confidential evaluation.