A Defense Attorney’s Worst Enemy: Dumb Mistakes

Everybody makes mistakes—but for some reason, it seems that often, people who are accused of committing a crime seem to make more mistakes than the average civilian. This was blatantly apparent when, after a 10-month crime spree, three burglars were finally apprehended with a mountain of evidence for the prosecution to work with.

The Rise of the ‘Rock Smash Crew’

The three men were, on the surface, actually pretty clever crooks; they only hit expensive homes and amassed a whole lot of priceless loot. They drove luxury vehicles to ensure that they didn’t draw attention to themselves while cruising the streets of the area’s wealthiest neighborhoods—Bellevue, Medina, Mercer Island—looking for marks. And they burgled homes that were sure to have lots to grab—like the home of Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez, who’s known for his love of jewelry and other high-dollar goods.

The trio—who got their name from their less-than-artful method of entry, which involved shattering both glass panes and security systems—allegedly hit more than 120 homes in the Northwest over the course of less than a year. Officers from numerous jurisdictions pursued the burglars, but were “were always 2 or 3 minutes behind them,” said Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett during a press conference.

They finally caught a break, though, in the form of a few too many dumb mistakes.

A Phone In the Yard Is Worth Three (Burglars) In The Bush

After months of pursuing the burglars—piecing together the string of crimes by their shared signatures and taking witness statements from numerous neighborhoods—police finally got the clue they needed.  A Mercer Island homeowner found a cell phone in his yard after reports of suspicious characters in the area. When police retrieved the phone, it received a call from one of the suspects.

That allowed officers to conduct further investigations into the suspects; they subsequently found an electronic benefits card that could be traced to one and photos of the license plates of another in the area during another burglary.

One burglar was also found to be wearing his court-ordered electronic monitoring bracelet during the crimes. And, upon arrest, one was sporting a watch that was reported missing from Hernandez’s house.

The three are still awaiting trial, but it doesn’t look good for them.

This Biggest Mistake? Not Hiring An Attorney

As defense attorneys, it's our job to ensure that everyone gets the fairest, most balanced, and legally-sound trial possible. Often, that means critically examining all of the possibilities, like how a piece of alleged evidence may have ended up in police custody.

Unfortunately, items like the ones left at the scene of the crime by the Rock Smash Crew make it difficult to convince a judge or jury that a client deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Theft crime, burglary, robbery—regardless of what you’ve been charged with, and no matter how clear the evidence against you may seem, you still deserve the best legal defense available. Don’t let your own dumb mistakes land you behind bars because you didn’t retain counsel as soon as possible.

If You’ve Been Charged With A Crime, Contact the Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyers at Baker, Lewis, Schwisow & Laws

The expert defense team at Baker, Lewis, Schwisow & Laws, PLLC vigorously defend the rights of individuals facing a multitude of charges in Seattle, Bellevue, and Kirkland. Contact us today at 206.209.0608 or fill out our online contact form to get more information or to get a free case review!