Personal Injury and Criminal Defense Legal Blog

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

University Place Bank Robbed by Hockey-Masked Man

According to Seattle’s Komo News, a University Place bank was robbed by a man that wore a hockey mask as he committed the crime. The robber walked into the Chase Bank, demanded money, and fled the scene on foot after being given the cash. Witnesses described the man as a white male in his 30s, standing about six feet tall, and with a shaved head and goatee. Video surveillance shows that the man was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, and black leather gloves.

In all instances where surveillance footage is released to the general public via news channels and other media, it is important to remember that while an individual may look similar to the person truly guilty of the crime, it does not mean that the similar looking person is truly guilty of a crime. False accusations can negatively impact a person’s way of life, and can lead to missed opportunities as a result, possibly regarding employment or housing. While an individual accused of a theft crime does not face as harsh a stigma as those individuals accused of more serious crimes, such as sex crimes, nevertheless, that individual should not be deemed guilty of any such wrongdoing until a jury of his or her peers determines such. In all instances where a person is accused of a crime, it is imperative that accused individuals retain the services of a skilled criminal defense attorney that will help build on their behalf the strongest possible defense given the circumstances of the case.

If you have been accused of committing a theft crime, please don’t hesitate to contact the skilled Seattle theft crime defense attorneys at McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC. Our aggressive defense attorneys will draw on our legal experience and knowledge to ensure that your rights are not infringed upon in a court of law. Call us today at 888-282-6977 for a free case consultation.

Source:http://tacoma.komonews.com/content/who-was-masked-man-robbing-bank

Green Lake Robberies Put Seattle Residents on Edge

The information site nwcn.com reports that Seattle residents need to be on heightened alert when traveling the paths along the Green Lake area, particularly late at night. A recent string of armed robberies taking place near the lake has resulted in increased police patrols of the area, in addition to a recommendation that people steer clear of the surrounding pathways once the sun goes down and visibility decreases.

While it may be a good idea to limit one’s nighttime activities, particularly in areas that are poorly lit and provide less than optimal visibility, it should never be assumed that those individuals that are out at night may in some way be connected to crimes being committed. In some cases, paranoia and increased worry can make people irrational, and that irrationality can quickly lead to individuals jumping to conclusions that may result in false accusations, incriminating testimony that may or may not be accurate, and innocent individuals being accused of crimes that they did not commit. In times of such heightened public fear, it is important to remember that not all individuals are up to no-good just because they are out and about once the sun has set.

Suspicious behavior should certainly be noted, and preventative action, such as vacating the area, should be taken to help ensure one’s own safety. Hopefully, with increased police presence, false accusation will not be a problem amongst Seattle area residents.

If you have been accused of a crime, it is important that all details of the arrest are carefully examined to ensure that false accusation or misinterpretation of evidence was not a determining factor in your arrest. At McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC, our experienced Washington criminal defense attorneys will examine the circumstances of your arrest, and will mount on your behalf the strongest defense possible given your situation. If you face criminal charges in the Washington area, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our attorneys today at 888-282-6977 for a free case consultation.

Source Article:http://www.nwcn.com/topstories/stories/NW_091109WAB-armed-robberies-LJ.16c75ab77.html

Snohomish Man Caught in Robbery Suspected of Seven More

According to mynorthwest.com, a 27-year-old man was apprehended and booked on robbery charges in the first degree. The Snohomish man was taken into custody by Arlington police after they witnessed him trying to break into an Arlington area gas station. Evidence from previous robberies in the Arlington, Lake Stevens, Everett, and Snohomish areas was also linked to the suspect. With so many accusations being made against the 27-year-old, it is difficult to speculate as to the severity of punishment that the prosecution may seek during trial.

Unfortunately, it was not discussed as to what type of evidence law enforcement had in regard to the seven other robberies, but it was supposedly enough to connect the 27-year-old with the crimes. However, it should be questioned as to when the evidence was collected, how the evidence was stored, and even who collected the evidence in the first place. Robbery charges can be especially problematic considering that while evidence may place an individual at the scene of the crime, it does not necessarily place the individual at the scene of the crime at the time that the offense was committed.

If you have been charged with a robbery or theft crime in Washington, it is vital that you retain the services of skilled legal counsel to help clear your good name. At McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC, our experienced Seattle theft defense lawyers will examine the details of your arrest, and will build you the strongest case possible given the circumstances of your case. Please don’t hesitate to contact one of our attorneys today at 888-282-6977 for a free case consultation.

Source Article: http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=209252

Robber Sent Up the River, Minus Inner Tube

The Seattle Times recently reported about a man who orchestrated an elaborate armored car robbery. The 28-year-old Lake Stevens man committed the heist in September 2008, and put a considerable amount of thought into the robbery. Though prosecutors sought a five-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal with the accused man, the ruling judge sentenced the man to six years based on the urging of the federal probation department.

The robbery began at a Bank of America. The 28-year-old man dressed as a landscaper, pepper-sprayed an armored truck driver and fled on foot with two bags of money, making his way towards a nearby creek. To pose as a distraction, the man had hired decoy landscapers to show up at the location the same time that the theft crime in Washington was being committed, a tactic that did in fact confuse police during the pursuit, rendering them unable to catch up to the robber. The man, upon reaching the creek, removed his landscaper’s uniform, hopped in a yellow inner-tube, and drifted away to his apparent safety. Police, however, were soon able to connect the man to the robbery based on the DNA evidence found on the discarded uniform left by the creek’s edge.

Though the vast majority of robberies do not involve such extensive planning, the end result is almost always the same: the accused is caught and taken into custody. Though the evidence in this case was incriminating enough to result in conviction, all cases are not the same. Often times, mistaken identity may play a determining factor in police focusing their investigation on one or more parties, even though those parties are ultimately innocent of the crime being investigated. In some instances, extenuating circumstances may assist in seeking, and being granted, more minimal charges. Though the article discussing this case did mention that the convicted man was addicted to prescription pain medication, extenuating circumstances that could help warrant a more favorable outcome in conviction would be more in line with mental illness or diminished mental capacity that could result in lack of reasoning and proper decision-making skills.

In any event, if you stand accused of a crime, it is important that you have legal counsel on your side that can sort through the details of your case and provide you with the strongest possible defense. At McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC, our skilled criminal defense attorneys will fight for you to ensure that your rights are not infringed upon in a court of law. If you or a loved one has been accused, please don’t hesitate to call us today at 888-282-6977 for a free consultation.

Source Article:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009546752_webinnertube27m.html