Prostitution stings are a common method used by the police to combat prostitution. In a typical sting operation, undercover police officers pose as prostitutes and communicate with clients to set up appointments to engage in commercial sex acts. Often, following a major prostitution sting, the police share information about the operation with the media […]
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What to Do If Someone Has Accused You of Sexual Assault
You thought an encounter you had in the past was a consensual encounter, but then you are contacted by law enforcement and told that the person on the other end of the encounter is now accusing you of sexual assault. What steps should you take? Don’t Give “Your Side of the Story” to Law Enforcement […]
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What to Do When Facing a Delayed Accusation of Sexual Assault
A false accusation of sexual assault places your reputation, livelihood, and freedom on the line. But what happens if the allegations are from months or even years ago? Below is an overview of some steps you can take to protect yourself when facing a delayed accusation of a sexual assault. Do Not Meet with Law […]
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What Is a No Contact Order?
When an individual in Washington is accused of domestic violence, the court frequently issues a no-contact order. There are two types of no contact orders in Washington: (1) pre-trial and (2) post-conviction. Both types of no-contact orders prevent the person accused in a domestic violence case from having contact with the alleged victim. Below is […]
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What to Do If You’ve Been Accused of a Sex Crime
A sex crime accusation can be a shocking, scary and shame-inducing life event. In addition to the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence, a sex crime accusation can carry requirements for treatment and registration as a sex offender. It can also be a barrier to continued or new employment and can generally stigmatize someone, even […]
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What Is an Entrapment Defense?
Entrapment Entrapment is a possible defense to many types of crimes. The defense consists of the argument that the crime originated with law enforcement officials or someone acting at the direction of law enforcement and that the person charged would not have committed the crime absent the influence of law enforcement. When law enforcement merely […]
Continue reading…What Type of Protection Order Do I Need?
There are a few different types of protection orders and it helps to know which one you need and what type of conduct each order addresses. 1. Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) Domestic Violence Protection Orders are issued under RCW 26.50.030. A petition under this provision is appropriate when the petitioner is alleging a prior […]
Continue reading…Someone has accused me of domestic violence – now what?
Many people from all walks of life find themselves facing accusations of domestic violence at one time or another. A majority of the people I represent on these types of offenses have no prior criminal history and are successful members of their communities, who have close relationships in their lives. A domestic violence allegation can […]
Continue reading…What happens to a domestic violence case that the alleged victim wants dismissed?
1) The Prosecutor and Not the Alleged Victim Makes the Decisions If you have been charged with a domestic violence offense and feel certain the case will be dismissed because the Alleged Victim (A/V) does not want the case prosecuted, think again. Many people believe that a domestic violence prosecution is entirely driven by the […]
Continue reading…Top 6 Reasons Domestic Violence Cases Get Dismissed
If you have been charged with a domestic violence offense, the best outcome you can hope for is a dismissal of your case by the prosecuting attorney’s office that filed charges. A dismissal is different than a finding of not guilty in that a case is dismissed, either because the prosecutor’s office decides not to […]
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