Legal Question in Criminal Law in Washington

SexOffenders Registered Residence

My son was arrested at his parole officers office during a scheduled appointment Dec. 28 2007. DOC sent him to prison on a parole violation, March 5, 2008 he was sent to a county jail on a warrant for not registering in that county. His registered county of residence is in another adjoining county where he shared an appartment and paid rent . We even had the local sheriff go to his residence and make a report that all of my son's belongings were there. And got a rent recipt. PO officer has a statement from a Deputy in that county that claims his roomate stated to him that my son did not live there. She swears she never said those words to that Deputy that she said he was not there at that moment and that he might be at his wife's in the other county. The deputy repeatedly harrassed her for a written statement, she refused. Instead she wrote a statement in my son's behalf along with about 8 other people saying that he did indeed live there. the Prosecuter has now summoned both his roomate and his wife to testify against my son and neither women want to testify at all. His right to a speedy trial has also been ignored and his Defense Lawyer has not called on or summoned a single witness for his defense. His trial date is June 19


Asked on 6/15/08, 12:42 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
James J. White, attorney Law Offices of Smith & White, PLLC

Re: SexOffenders Registered Residence

If your son feels that his attorney is not doing a good job than he needs to continue his June 19th trial date. Going forward with a poor defense is worse than not going forward at all. It seems that there are a lot of potential witnesses for the defense to call, the apartment manager, the local sheriff, the wife and the roommate, anyone else who might know where he lives like neighbors. However, it becomes very difficult on appeal to show that the case outcome would have been different if you had a better lawyer. Plus, an appellate attorney can cost more than the trial attorney.

You say trial on the 19th so I assume he has been charged with failure to register as a new crime. He isn't being accused of it as a parole violation. What county/Court is this in? If you hire new counsel right away, that will be a basis for getting a continuance.

At your service,

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Answered on 6/16/08, 11:04 am


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