Mr. Chhim was convicted of two separate crimes in two consecutive trials involving two different alleged victims. Mr. Chhim appealed on the grounds: 1) the trial court denied his motion to represent himself and 2) jurors in the second trial saw juror notes left over from the first trial! The Court of Appeals for Read More…
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Tales From the Trenches Don’t Look at Child Porn While on Suspended Sentence for Child Rape State v Justin Smith (Division I Published in Part) #86394-1-1
Mr. Smith pleaded guilty to Rape of a Child in the First Degree in 2021. His prison sentence was suspended, pursuant to RCW 9.94.A.670, based on a psychosexual evaluation indicating he was amenable to community based sex offender treatment. He was placed on community supervision by the WA. Department of Corrections (DOC’). In 2024, Mr. Read More…
TALES FROM THE TRENCHES Prior Convictions From Another Country Aren’t Counted In WA Offender Score State v. Matthew Lewis #102910-1
To limit judges’ sentencing discretion, with a few recognized exceptions, the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 (‘SRA’) provides appropriate ‘times for crimes’, based on an individual’s particular crime and prior convictions. Priors do include ‘out-of-state’ convictions. RCW 9.94A.525. Mr. Lewis pleaded guilty to multiple child porn counts. He had six prior convictions: 3 from Washington Read More…