From: Prosecuting, Attorney [Attorney.Prosecuting@KINGCOUNTY.GOV]
Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 9:18 AM
To: PROSECUTORSPOST@LISTS.KINGCOUNTY.GOV
Subject: 2012 Feb: The Prosecutor's Post
THE PROSECUTOR’S POST
Vol. 5, Issue 1 February 9,
2012
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Update: LEAD -- An Innovative Approach to Drug Offenses
The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office (PAO) began a unique partnership with the Seattle
Police Department's West Precinct, The Defender Association, the Seattle City Attorney's Office, the
King County Executive's Office, and the Belltown Community Leaders to launch LEAD -- Law
Enforcement Assisted Diversion -- a new, innovative approach to more effectively deal with low-level
drug addicts, dealers, and prostitutes who cycle in and out of King County's jail and criminal justice
system.
This program, launched in October of 2011 and funded by private grant money, is designed to divert
individuals away from repeated arrests and bookings for low-level drug offenses and into immediate
treatment services and opportunities. As part of the program, officers on the street have the discretion
to take low-level drug offenders to a treatment facility managed by Evergreen Treatment Services,
where case managers worked with individuals to offer immediate and longer-term treatment, transitional
housing, educational opportunities, and other services geared toward breaking the cycle of addiction.
So far, Seattle Police Officers have referred 24 individuals to the program.. In one instance, a case
manager helped an individual referred to the program to restore his union status so that he could look
for work. In another, a case worker successfully encouraged treatment and regular check-ins for a
woman who used to routinely solicit and use drugs in front of local storefronts. The woman has been
regularly attending her appointments, and business owners have expressed their gratitude to officers for
this program.
The PAO and The Defender Association are working with the King County Sheriff's Office to offer LEAD
in the Skyway neighborhood of unincorporated King County later this year.
To read a recent Seattle Times article and to learn more about LEAD, please click here.
Relentless Stalker, Sentenced to Prison, Is Impetus Behind New Protections
Defendant Sean Moul has been convicted of two counts of Felony Stalking and 19 counts of Violating
an Anti-Harassment Order; he was sentenced to 26 ½ years in prison for these crimes. Moul first
started staking his victim, Tracy Lundeen, in 1994, when she was 13 years old, after she offered to help
him with his homework at McKnight Middle School. Moul misinterpreted Lundeen's offer to help and
began to follow her. His behavior continued for 18 years.
Moul was first convicted of stalking Lundeen in 2001, and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
However, about two years after his release, he resumed his efforts to contact Lundeen and her family.
Lundeen worked with Attorney General Rob McKenna and other lawmakers to push for greater
protections for staking victims by pushing for a new "stalking protection order." Under current state law,
stalking victims like Lundeen, who have no history of dating their stalker, can only apply for a civil antiharassment order, the same type of protection offered to those who find themselves involved in minor
neighborhood disputes -- not the type of situation that has plagued Lundeen for years. Unfortunately,
these efforts were not successful in this legislative session. HB 2464, which would have provided
stalking victims greater protections, did not pass out of committee.
Lundeen recently appeared on The Today Show to talk about these efforts and her story. To watch this
segment and to learn more about this case, please click here.
Washington Traffic Safety Commission Honors PAO Employee
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission has awarded PAO Legal Administrative Specialist
Armontae "A.J." Smith its "Achievements in Traffic Safety" award in recognition of his superb work in
support of "Target Zero," a grant-funded emphasis on stopping and prosecuting impaired drivers in
King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties. Target Zero, launched on July 1, 2010, funds a task force of 21
trained and skilled troopers, along with a number of skilled deputy prosecuting attorneys (DPAs)
dedicated solely to the program's goal of reducing the number of impaired driving deaths to zero by
2013.
As part of his work at the PAO, A.J. developed an innovative and comprehensive case monitoring
system to log, track, and monitor all DUI (driving under the influence) cases referred to the office by
Target Zero troopers. A.J.'s work has facilitated the PAO's ability to obtain fast, reliable, and helpful
information about all facets of Target Zero cases, and allows speedy access to a variety of data, charts,
and graphs that measure Target Zero's short and long-term efficiency, which A.J. displays in a quarterly
report that is admired by all other agencies participating in this grant-funded program.
PAO Says Goodbye To A Special Friend
The PAO recently said goodbye to a special friend of the office -- Jeeter -- the pioneering courthouse
dog whose abundant love led to a nationwide movement that recognizes the value of placing dogs
within the justice system to provide comfort and unconditional assurance to victims of crime.
The PAO was introduced to Jeeter by Senior DPA Ellen O'Neill-Stephens, whose family adopted Jeeter
to serve as companion to her son, Sean.
Jeeter's personality instantly won over Norm Maleng, who previously thought that dogs belonged in the
barn. Norm's support led to the PAO's adoption of Ellie, the PAO's official service dog and encouraged
O'Neill-Stephens to spearhead this national movement.
Our hearts go out to Ellen and her family. Jeeter was a wonderful, well-loved dog and a faithful
companion who brought comfort to countless individuals. He will be missed by many. To learn more
about Jeeter and the use of courthouse dogs throughout the country, please click here.
Ellen and Jeeter
Jeeter, Sean, and Ellen
Tune In To Comcast Newsmakers
Tune in to Comcast Newsmakers, a regular four-and-a-half-minute interview program that airs on CNN
Headline News (cable channel 45) to watch host Sabrina Register speak with King County Prosecuting
Attorney Dan Satterberg regarding the remarkable drop in crime rate in Washington State over the past
30 years. In 2010, major crimes were down 44% from 1980. Violent crimes decreased 27%, and
property crimes decreased 46% during that same time period. To learn more and watch this interview,
please click here.
Legislative Update
The Washington State 2012 legislative session began on January 9. Listed below are three areas
where Dan Satterberg and other prosecutors around the state are pushing for reform
1. Increased Penalties for Vehicular Homicide
HB 2216 would increase the sentence for a drunk driver who kills. Under our current law, the sentence
for Vehicular Homicide is 31-41 months. This bill would increase the sentence for Vehicular Homicide
as a result of DUI to 78-102 months, the same as First Degree Manslaughter, which the law essentially
defines as a reckless act that kills. Many would agree that drunk driving is a reckless act that kills. This
amended bill was passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee to the House floor for further
action.
2. DNA Collection from Arrestees
HB 2588 allows law enforcement to collect DNA profiles (via cheek swab) from individuals arrested for
serious felony offenses after a finding of probable cause by a judge. More than two dozen states and
the federal government already collect DNA profiles from arrestees. This bill also allows crime lab
personnel to run an arrestee's DNA profile in the national CODIS database to determine if the arrestee's
profile matches any profiles from unsolved crimes, but only after a judge finds probable cause. If there
is no finding of probable cause, the DNA profile is destroyed.
3. Increased Penalties for Gun Crimes
Prosecutors around the state lobbied for HB 2589 to increase the penalties for convicted felons who
continue to carry firearms. Under current law, it is illegal for convicted felons and for juveniles under the
age of 18 to carry a gun. If they get caught, they are charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
(UPFA 2).
In the juvenile system, it takes five UPFA 2 convictions before an offender is sentenced to the Juvenile
Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) for 15 weeks. Under this bill, offenders would go to JRA upon their
third conviction for carrying a firearm.
In the adult system, an offender's first felony conviction disqualifies him or her from carrying a firearm. It
takes three more UPFA 2 convictions before the offender is sentenced to prison for 12-16 months.
Under this bill, offenders would have gone to prison for 26-34 months after their second conviction for
carrying a firearm. However, this bill was not passed out of committee.
Community & Health Contributions
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♥
5th Annual Valentine Project: For the fifth consecutive year, Legal Administrative Specialist Lani
Englund, is collecting from PAO employees hand-made Valentines and wish list donations to
deliver to patients at Seattle Children's Hospital.
King County Giving Campaign: The PAO received an award for most dollars raised ($74,847)
among King County agencies with 251-600 employees as part of the 2011 King County Employee
Giving Program, which supports local and national nonprofit and charitable organizations. PAO
paralegal LeeAnne Zwinkle received the "Ambassador Award" for her hard work in leading the
PAO's efforts. Congratulations, LeeAnne!
Case Updates
Child Homicide: State v. Wallace: Defendant Ronald Wallace, Jr. has been convicted of Second
Degree Murder for beating to death his girlfriend's two-year-old daughter when the child was left in his
care while her mother was working. The defendant was sentenced to the maximum sentence of over
20 years in prison by Judge Erlick. Senior DPA Rich Anderson handled the prosecution of this case.
Domestic Violence: State v. Garcia-Bonilla: Defendant Mario Garcia-Bonilla has been convicted of
First Degree Burglary with a Deadly Weapon Enhancement, First Degree Assault with a Deadly
Weapon Enhancement, Second Degree Assault with a Deadly Weapon Enhancement, and Violating a
No Contact Order for breaking into his ex-girlfriend's home and attacking her and her current boyfriend
with a kitchen knife while they were sleeping. The defendant was sentenced to 18 years in prison by
Judge Cayce. DPA Chris Bell handled the prosecution of this case with assistance from Victim
Advocate Kerri Duncan and Paralegal Divina Tomasini.
Attempted Murder: State v. Gray: Defendant Ronald Gray has been convicted of First Degree
Attempted Murder with a Deadly Weapon Enhancement for stabbing an Auburn man. The defendant
and two companions were repeatedly threatening individuals who were simply walking down a
neighborhood street. The victim was stabbed after he asked the defendant and his companions to stop
and to leave the neighborhood. The defendant now faces a sentence of over 24 years in prison when
he is sentenced before Judge McCullough on a date yet to be set by the court. Auburn Police Detective
Anna Weller led the investigation of this case, and Senior DPA Brad Bales handled the prosecution.
Violent Assault: State v. Ostrovski: Defendant Yevgeni Ostrovski has been convicted of six counts
of Violating a No Contact Order, Felony Harassment, Witness Tampering, and Second Degree Assault
with a Deadly Weapon Enhancement, as well as a sentencing aggravator for committing the assault
within the presence of a minor, for holding a knife to his wife's throat and threatening to kill her in front
of their 14-year-old daughter. After the defendant was arrested and was being led away in handcuffs,
he told his daughter, "You're going to pay for this." After being served with a no contact order, the
defendant repeatedly called his wife, urging her not to testify or to recant in hopes that his charges
would be dismissed. The defendant now faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in Judge
Middaugh's courtroom on February 12. DPAs Susan Harrison and Kristin Relyea handled the
prosecution of this case.
Community & Speaking Events
Dan Satterberg enjoys attending and speaking at community events. If you would like to invite Dan or
someone from the Prosecuting Attorney's Office to speak to your organization, please email the office at
this link Prosecuting Attorney.
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