TALES FROM THE TRENCHES Juvenile Tried as Adult / Murder Conviction Overturned State v. Luna (Superior Court #103251-0)

An incredibly long decision by an unanimous Washington Supreme Court covers incredibly sad and dark facts about the circumstances surrounding two 16-year-old girls in a fight that got deadly. Lola Felipa Luna got into a knife fight with another 16-year-old girl (‘S.P.T.’) she had never met. They “knew” each other through social media. S.P.T. arrived Read More…

TALES FROM THE TRENCHES ER 413 Limiting Evidence of Immigration Status vs Right to Put On a Defense Rape of a Child Case State v. Marquez-Garduza (58988-5 Division II Unpublished)

The Defendant was convicted of 3 counts of Rape of a Child 1 and one count of Child Molestation 1. The victim was his step-niece. One year after the victim disclosed her abuse to a therapist – and a mandatory report provided to the police – her mother filed immigration paperwork seeking U.S. legal status, Read More…

TALES FROM THE TRENCHES Cowboy Mike: Country Singer or Suspected Serial Killer? State v. Michael Braae (#59270-3-11) Division II Unpublished

Mr. Braae, “Cowboy Mike”, wore a cowboy hat and boots at bars where he was known to serenade women with his guitar. In July 2001, he met 44-year-old “LJ” at a dive bar in Olympia, WA. According to the bartender, LJ had been stood up earlier on a date and danced all evening with Cowboy Read More…