Being accused of committing a crime in Everett, Washington, can be a frightening, stressful, and embarrassing experience. Whether the accusations are true or not, the potential consequences will keep most people up at night. The possible jail, fines, restitution, probation, no contact orders, loss of gun rights, loss of driving privileges, court ordered classes, and more, could be awaiting you.
No matter what charge you are facing and whether or not you believe you are guilty, it is important to take your current situation seriously. You may interpret the case as no big deal and just a big misunderstanding but the officer and prosecutor clearly feel differently. They are taking the charges against you seriously and are preparing their case; it is vital that you also prepare a defense and protect your future. Do not assume that since you don’t have anything else on your record, the prosecutor will simply cut you a break. (After all, everyone’s record has to start somewhere.)
Even if you are taking the case seriously but feel it is a lost cause, it is still important to have an attorney help you. An experienced attorney will be able to properly investigate and analyze the case. They might also see defenses that you are not currently aware of.
The Law Offices of Jason S. Newcombe in Everett, Washington handle a variety of criminal charges and cases, including:
We handle Everett gross misdemeanors, misdemeanor and felony cases in each level of the court system, including district courts, municipal court, and superior court.
One of the greatest fears people face when being charged with a crime is not knowing what is going to happen. While an experienced defense attorney may not necessarily be able to predict what will happen, they will have a pretty good sense of the situation and will be able to explain a variety of different potential outcomes, along with the hurdles you may face along the way. The Law Offices of Jason S. Newcombe are here to tell you the whole truth about what you will be facing. We don’t make promises which we cannot deliver. We will make sure you understand fully all of your potential options and the ramifications of each.
When you are potentially facing serious consequences, it is important to speak to an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Some options may be time sensitive and deadlines could be missed if not addressed promptly. Your attorney will be able to warn you of these possible pitfalls and make sure you will know what lays ahead. Give our Everett office a call to start speaking with one of our experienced attorneys today.
Are you in legal trouble in Snohomish County?
Have you, or a loved one been arrested and charged with a crime in Everett?
If so, then you already know that this is one of the most stressful and challenging times in your entire life. Unfortunately, a lot of things need to happen before this situation is resolved but the hardest things to deal with in life are the unknown. Right now, you need help from a qualified Washington State criminal lawyer who can help you better understand the charges you’re facing and then do everything in their power to minimize the penalties and punishments you may be facing.
In a best-case-scenario, your Everett criminal law lawyer can have your charges dismissed but even if this is not possible, reducing the severity of your punishments usually is. It all starts with a free consultation, which we offer to all of our new clients. With so much at stake, you need to work with a WA State criminal lawyer you fully trust.
The information below was prepared by our legal team to help you better understand what happens after an arrest. When you’re ready, contact us for a free consultation and work with a team of proven lawyers who will aggressively fight to protect your Constitutional rights.
Understanding Criminal Charges and the Penalties Associated with ThemThose facing serious criminal charges quite literally have their life on the line. A criminal conviction can change the course of your life. Penalties for a criminal conviction can include
Outside of the criminal penalties, you could also experience:
Everything should be done to prevent a conviction, starting with choosing an experienced, dedicated Everett criminal defense lawyer to represent you.
Our criminal defense lawyers have experience using many defense strategies to help you through various types of cases. If you choose to work with our legal team, then you can be confident in knowing that you will have attorneys on your side who are working together to bring about a favorable result.
Our Everett criminal law attorneys like to educate our clients on legal processes and what they can expect throughout the progression of the case. We know the importance of understanding the law; our team has over 50 combined years of experience handling cases just like yours, and we want our clients to be equipped to handle situations with awareness and understanding.
The best way to pick a law firm is to speak with them and ask them questions. You will probably have questions like
Our Everett defense attorneys offer a free initial consultation to help you get a better feel for your situation. Our understanding of Washington state criminal defense proceedings gives us in-depth knowledge and insights to help you protect yourself and obtain the best possible outcome for your situation. Don’t fight the charges alone, contact us today.
What Happens After I’m Arrested? A Washington State Criminal Court OverviewThe criminal justice process typically begins when a person is taken into police custody. An arrest may occur either at the scene of a crime or later after an investigation has developed probable cause to believe a specific person committed a particular crime. After the initial arrest, the state prosecutor reviews the evidence and decides whether to issue formal charges against the defendant and, if so, what the charges should be. Formal charges will be read to the accused during their first appearance in court, known as the arraignment.
In Washington, there are three different types of courts in which a person accused of a crime may end up. To determine what court will handle your case, consider what law the government alleges that you have broken. Depending on the nature of your crime, you may end up in Municipal Court, District Court, or Superior Court.
The Everett Municipal Court is a court of limited jurisdiction, like state District Courts, but Municipal Courts may not hear civil lawsuits. A Municipal Court may only consider and has exclusive jurisdiction over non-criminal traffic citations, as well as misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes that occur within a city's boundary.
Simple misdemeanor offenses include:
Penalties for misdemeanors can carry sentences of up to 90 days in jail and/or fines of up to $1,000.
Gross misdemeanors offenses include:
Penalties for gross misdemeanors in Washington State can carry sentences of up to 364 days in jail and/or fines of up to $5,000.
The Snohomish County District Court, or county court as it is commonly referred to, has 4 locations to serve the citizens of Snohomish County. The Everett Division is located on the 3rd floor of the Superior Courthouse in downtown Everett. The district court hears two different types of cases, civil cases, and criminal cases. As a court of limited jurisdiction, the District Court is responsible for the following types of matters:
The court may also hear preliminary or expedited felony cases. In a preliminary felony case, the court will determine bail, or whether the charges will necessitate further proceedings in the state superior court. State law violations can carry with them a wide range of punishments including fines, probation, jail, or prison.
The Snohomish County Superior Court is located in downtown Everett and has exclusive jurisdiction over felony cases, estate and probate matters, family law cases (including divorces and child custody hearings), and juvenile proceedings.
Felony crimes are much more serious than misdemeanors and include such offenses as rape, armed robbery, burglary, and sales or distribution of illegal drugs.
The Superior court may also hear cases involving violations of City law that have been appealed from a Municipal or District Court. If a defendant chooses to appeal a case that was previously decided in a Municipal or District Court the Superior court will hear the case and is not beholden to the Municipal or District Court’s decision. These cases include infractions and misdemeanors.
Whether you are faced with a misdemeanor or felony charge, your future can be seriously impacted by a criminal conviction. Since a conviction for one of these crimes may bring potential penalties like prison time or jail time, hefty fines, and public stigma, you need to fight the charges as hard as possible. If you have been charged with a crime in Everett, you deserve an attorney who will fight for and protect your rights.
How can Everett Criminal Defense Attorney Help Me?For most people, one mistake is all it takes to make immediate behavior changes and avoid getting into dangerous situations in the future. You do not have to serve a prison sentence in order to realize it isn’t something you want to do. With careful planning, you can build an effective defense strategy that keeps you from opening or adding to a criminal history.
Our Snohomish County criminal law attorneys can help with a wide range of charges including:
DUI - In Washington, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08% or higher. For drivers under the age of 21, the BAC limit is .02%. If a person is found with a BAC above the legal limit, there is no further evidence required to support a DUI conviction. Due to Washington’s implied consent law, which states that any person who operates a vehicle in Washington is deemed to have given consent to a breath test, if an individual refuses to provide a sample to law enforcement upon request, it can result in license suspension.
Robbery - Washington State Statute RCW 9A.56.190 defines robbery as:
“A person commits robbery when he or she unlawfully takes personal property from the person of another or in his or her presence against his or her will by the use or threatened use of immediate force, violence, or fear of injury to that person or his or her property or the person or property of anyone. Such force or fear must be used to obtain or retain possession of the property, or to prevent or overcome resistance to the taking; in either of which cases the degree of force is immaterial. Such taking constitutes robbery whenever it appears that, although the taking was fully completed without the knowledge of the person from whom taken, such knowledge was prevented by the use of force or fear.”
Robbery charges in Washington state are classified as Robbery in the first degree, which is a class A felony, and Robbery in the second degree, which is a class B felony. Robbery charges are serious, but if you or someone you know has been charged with robbery, it isn’t hopeless. Contact an Everett criminal law attorney for a free initial case consultation.
Physical Control Violations - Often referred to as “DUI without driving,” Physical control is defined in Washington State as being in possession of the vehicle keys, inside the vehicle, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, while not operating the vehicle. An example would be, if you went out with some friends for a few beers, realized you were too drunk to drive home, and crawled into your car’s back seat to sleep it off before driving home.
An officer may cite you with a “physical control violation,” even though the car wasn’t moving and you weren’t driving. Depending on the circumstances concerning the charge, there may be several defense strategies available. An experienced criminal defense attorney will be able to work with you to create a defense capable of helping to protect your future and driving privileges.
Sex Crimes - Being charged with a sex offense in Washington is a terrifying experience for the accused, facing potential life-long consequences. If you are charged with a sex crime, you may be facing prison time, mandatory sex offender registration, and fines. Your first step should be to hire an Everett defense lawyer with experience defending sex crimes to fight for your rights from the moment you are charged or become a suspect in a sexual offense investigation.
No matter how bad you may think your situation is, our Everett criminal defense lawyers can help. We can go over the details of your case to give you a better understanding of the charges against you and how to deal with them.
If you don’t see your specific charge listed above, or you just want to discuss the specifics of your case, contact us today to see how we can help.
Everett- The County Seat of SnohomishEverett is one of the core cities comprising the Seattle metropolitan area, located approximately 25 miles north of Seattle. The largest city in Snohomish County, Everett is home to over 100,000 residents. Many Seattle residents have left the city in recent years and spread out to places like Everett, where the housing prices aren’t quite as steep as those in King County. In addition to housing many of Seattle’s commuters, Everett also boasts a booming aerospace manufacturing plant, which employs over 34,000 Everett locals.
Despite being described as a largely blue-collar town, Everett still enjoys a vibrant arts scene. The Imagine Children’s Museum is popular with both residents and visitors. The museum is home to many interactive exhibits that allow children (and the young at heart) to experiment, splash, think, play, and learn together in a safe environment.
During the summer months, Everett plays host to many different outdoor festivals. The Upper Left Beerfest, a craft beer festival, is a relative newcomer to Everett, which established the two-day food and drink festival in 2012. In September, the city hosts the Everett Sausage Fest, a multi-day, family-friendly festival that has been running since 1977.
If you’d like to see a little bit of Everett history, be sure to stop in and see a show at the Historic Everett Theater. The Everett Theatre has gone through many iterations, having been partially rebuilt following a fire in December 1923, renovated into a triplex theater in 1979, closed in 1989, and restored to its original state in 2000. Today, the 800+ seat theater hosts community theater productions, comedy shows, film festivals, and live music concerts.
If you have been arrested and charged with a crime in the Everett area, it is crucial that you hire a Snohomish County criminal defense lawyer to fight for you. Let our team help you so that you can enjoy all that Everett has to offer. Contact our office today for a free initial consultation.
Why Do I Need an Everett Criminal Law Attorney?Criminal charges are a serious matter. If convicted, not only will you be facing severe penalties, but your permanent criminal record will also bear the conviction. This can create serious problems for your future, including job and housing prospects. It is vital that you have legal representation to protect your rights when charged with a criminal offense in Everett.
No matter the exact charges you are facing, whether they involve a sex crime, assault, DUI, fish & wildlife violations, or any other crime, you can be confident knowing that you will have an experienced advocate on your side.
Our team is highly educated in criminal law and fully prepared to help you obtain the just outcome that you are seeking. We recognize what is on the line and know how difficult it can be to overcome the odds when so much is at stake. If you choose our team, know that our Everett criminal defense lawyers will stop at nothing to uphold your legal rights.