Recent News

Racketeering isn't a crime that most people hear much about outside of crime dramas—but it's recently been in the news on the west coast, as alleged murderer Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow takes the stand in San Francisco. read more

"Selfies" and "Sexting", terms that are spoken and exchanged on a daily basis with the younger crowd. For the uninitiated, a "selfie" is a self-portrait photograph that's often taken with a smart phone; "sexting" is sending sexually explicit text messages and/or nude photos between mobile phones. The explosion of smart phones equipped with cameras and video capabilities has created endless opportunities for anyone to share nude self-portraits and text explicit sexual fantasies with whomever and whenever they want. These emerging technologies are a natural fit for most teens and, typically, the worst offense they might commit is sharing too often. There is, however, the potential for criminal action and liability under child pornography laws when selfies and sexting involve underage nudity or sexually explicit situations. read more

Know your rights in Washington State if you have been arrested for robbery. Robbery isn't just considered a theft crime; it is a theft crime with an added factor of violence which makes it a much more serious offense and it is because of the violence factor that robbery is punished far more severely than a theft offense. A robbery occurs when a person forcibly takes another person's property by threatening to use or using a weapon. Penalties for armed robbery can carry a sentence of up to life in prison and fines reaching $50,000. read more

Washington state's decriminalization of marijuana didn't decriminalize driving under the influence. If you're stopped for a suspected marijuana DUI, it's important to know your rights -- and your options. read more

Over the last two years, the Cities of Bellevue, Seattle and surrounding cities have begun doubling down on student safety by installing speed cameras on streets in school zones. The cameras, which issue tickets for drivers going as slowly as 25 miles per hour when the speed limit is 20, have already caught more than 70,000 drivers in the City of Seattle. Depending on where you're driving, your ticket may cost anything from $124 to $186 -- a steep rate for just a few miles over the speed limit. As a result, many drivers are curious about the potential for contesting the tickets, or asking for a reduced citation. read more