Past Cases & Outcomes

City of Prosser v. Castania

Prosser, WA

Gross Misdemeanors; DUI and Assault 4^th D.V. based off an informant’s conclusory tips of intoxicated driving and domestic violence, where Client had a prior DUI more than 7 years ago. Conviction of these charges would have resulted in a 5-year ignition interlock device requirement ($2,700 per year), probation for 5 years, court costs/fines of $2,500, an alcohol assessment and treatment, a domestic violence assessment and treatment, travel restrictions, and the loss of firearm rights. After Counsel identified issues with probable cause for the stop due to the informants tip, case was resolved as reckless driving and the assault dismissed, preventing the 5 year ignition interlock requirement, travel restrictions, the D.V. assessment, the loss of firearm rights, and resulting in only 2 years of probation.

City of Pasco v. Martell

Pasco, WA

Gross Misdemeanors; DUI, Operating a Vehicle w/out an Ignition Interlock, and Assault 4th D.V., based off an informant’s conclusory tips of intoxicated driving and domestic violence, where Client had two prior DUI within seven years. Conviction of these charges would have resulted in 120 dails of jail, 150 days of electronic home monitoring (EHM), a 10-year ignition interlock device requirement ($2,700 per year), probation for 5 years, court costs/fines of $3,500, an alcohol assessment and treatment, a domestic violence assessment and treatment, and travel restrictions. Counsel drafted and argued a motion regarding probable cause for the stop due to the informants tip and procedural errors made during the DUI stop. The DUI charge was dismissed, preventing the 120 day mandatory minimum jail sentence with 150 days EHM, preventing the 10 year ignition interlock requirement, and the travel restrictions, literally saving the Client thousands of dollars and hours.

City of Pasco v. Shevchenko

Pasco, WA

Gross Misdemeanor Simple Assault D.V.; Client, a medical student less than a year away from graduating, was charged with domestic violence during a dispute with their significant other over a shared child. Attorney Stone was hired 6 months after the case was initially filed due to a lack of progress being made. If convicted, the Client would have been unable to continue in their healthcare career and would have dropped out of school, while also losing their right to possess firearms, have travel restrictions placed upon them, as well as costs/fines. Case was dismissed within 1 month through passionate defense, tough negotiations and witness interviews, exposing that the “victim” was in fact the perpetrator.

State of Washington v. Pomeroy 

Benton County, WA

Felony Theft 2^nd and Forgery; Client, a traveling nurse, accused of misappropriating narcotics prescribed to patients, forging destruction logs, and not following established procedure to dispose of unused narcotics by coworkers in a very shadily-ran retirement home. Noting several discrepancies in the evidence like mismatching handwriting, improper timelines, and lack of direct evidence, the case was filed as a misdemeanor Controlled Substance Possession and dismissed after 12 months of law-abiding behavior with no admission of guilt or wrongdoing, entirely evading any felony filings.

State of Washington v. Doren 

Franklin County, WA

Probation Violation Matter, DUI reduced to Reckless Driving; Client, a mother of 7 young kids, had a warrant for a failure to appear to probation on a DUI charge that was reduced to reckless driving. The issue was Client had never served the 1-day sentence she was given because she was pregnant during sentencing and then was raising her young family. After 7 years, Client needed to clear the warrant to reinstate her license but was terrified after probation informed Client she would likely be facing charges for failing to appear and would have to serve a minimum 30 days in jail for violating probation and the original sentence. Through meticulous planning with the Client to check herself into the jail the day before the scheduled hearing and negotiations with the prosecutor and Judge, Client spent a single day in jail, had her warrant quashed, and was released the next day and able to get relicensed. Attorney Stone confidently and empathetically explained to the Judge and the probation department why the Client had not fulfilled the original sentence and what events in her life had prevented that from happening.

State of Washington v. Oates

Yakima County, WA

Felony Assault 3^rd of an Officer and G.M. Assault 4 D.V.; Client, a student in nursing school, was charged with assaulting an officer who responded to a domestic violence incident at the Client’s house. A guilty conviction required 0-90 days in jail and also would have required Client to register as a felon, losing their right to vote, right to possess firearms, and putting a halt to Clients’ education and career in healthcare. After tough negotiations with the prosecutor over 5 months and witness interviews, charges were reduced from Felony Assault & Assault D.V. to a misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct with no D.V. tag, no jail time, and a deferred sentence, meaning the case is dismissed after 12 months of good behavior.

City of Kennewick v. Ralston

Benton County, WA

Gross Misdemeanor Assault 4 D.V.; Client was charged with assault after pouring an alcoholic beverage on an abusive ex and then getting into a scuffle with the ‘new’ significant other. This conviction would have resulted in the loss of firearm rights and a no-contact order for our Client, who had no prior criminal history, as well as Client losing their job and healthcare insurance due to it being a D.V. incident. Despite the first prosecutor threatening to add an additional count if Defense requested interviews with the victim, Counsel was patient and tactful with their timing, ultimately getting this case dismissed.

City of Richland v. Hides 

Benton County, WA

Gross Misdemeanor DUI charge reduced to Reckless Driving purely through enthusiastic negotiation where BAC was a 0.29, or 4 times over the legal limit. When no legal issue exists, sometimes the best tool is your relationships.

City of Grandview v. Tejada

Yakima County, WA

Gross Misdemeanor Assault 4 D.V.; Client was charged with assault after a tense discussion with their significant other. Due to issues with translation during the police response (all parties were Spanish speaking), case was dismissed.