There are times when Seattle criminal defense attorneys and Seattle DUI attorneys are summoned to take on a case that most of the general public would feel was absurd, a total waste of taxpayer money. When the factual scenarios are outlined, laymen frequently ask, “Why is that case clogging up our court system?” Unfortunately, the system is flush with cases that one would hope could be resolved without the necessity of a criminal prosecution. Equally unfortunate, the person charged is the only one whom risks the prospect of having a criminal conviction on his record, and the governmental agent that chose to file the criminal charge risks nothing whatsoever.
A case out of Virginia is a gleaming example of how absurd and out-of-whack things can get in our criminal justice system. In December 2010, bored and craving attention, a 14 year old boy used a plastic tube to blow small plastic pellets at fellow high school students. In one lunch period, three students were “tagged” and appeared annoyed by being hit by the pellets. The authorities at the high school viewed this teenager’s act as more than a childish prank. The school expelled the student for “possession and use of a weapon”. The deputy sheriff was summoned to the scene. Thereafter the student was charged with, “misdemeanor assault” – a crime. School officials claimed that the plastic shooter (fashioned from a pen casing) was a “weapon used to intimidate, threaten or harm others”, and the plastic pellets were “B-B’s.”
Is this the type of case that is worthy of a criminal charge? Is this the type of activity that is worthy of branding someone (a teenager no less) a “criminal”? Is such a charging decision an abuse of governmental authority? Is it excessive punishment for a minor infraction? Is this how we want our taxpayer dollars being used in our criminal justice system? All legitimate questions, but unfortunately the answers are at this time irrelevant because currently a good number of cases being processed through our criminal courts are of this very nature – silly and absurd.
In an effort to avoid a criminal conviction, the Virginia student entered a one year diversion program. If all the terms of the diversion program are complied with, the criminal charges against him will be dismissed. During that one year period, the boy will be on “probation” with the court, which of course costs the government and vis-à-vis the taxpayer’s money.
Regardless of the silliness of the criminal allegation, it would be wise for any person charged or otherwise cited for a criminal charge in Western Washington to immediately contact a qualified Seattle criminal defense attorney. A Seattle criminal lawyer will work to not only best minimize the myriad of legal consequences a person faces, but will also work to protect the person’s rights and liberty interests. The Seattle criminal attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified Seattle criminal defense lawyers dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those charged with committing a crime in Western Washington.
If you or a loved one is cited for committing a crime in King County, Pierce County, Snohomish County, Kitsap County, Thurston County or one of the following cities or towns: Algona, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Bonney Lake, Bothell, Burien, Des Moines, Duvall, Edmonds, Enumclaw, Everett, Federal Way, fife, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Lake Stevens, Lakewood, Lynnwood, Maple Valley, Marysville, Medina, Mercer Island, Milton, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, New Castle, Normandy Park, North Bend, Olympia, Puyallup, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Sea Tac, Seattle, Shoreline, Snohomish, Sumner, Tacoma, Tukwila, University Place, and/or Woodinville, or any other city or town in Western Washington, call The Criminal Defense Team of SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900; (425) 998-8384 for an initial free consultation.
