Over the past several years, hate crimes in Seattle seem to have spiked. Police recorded 25 hate crimes during the first two months of 2024 and 17 during the first two months of 2023. In King County a man is now being held on $200,000 bail at the King County Jail on suspicion of committing a hate crime (and second-degree assault) stemming from the most recent alleged hate crime related attack. The Seattle man is also awaiting trial for a separate alleged hate crime against a transgender woman where he posted $30,000 bond. On that case he pleaded not guilty in October, weeks after investigators claimed he attacked a Sound Transit fare inspector (a transgender woman) without warning in Seattle’s Chinatown International District. The most recent incident also involved a transgender woman and happened in the University District. The Transgender woman sustained broken teeth, scraped hands, a bruised and swollen eye with abdomen pain, according to police and court records. The definition for a hate crime (and attendant punishment) in Washington State can be found in RCW 9A.36.080. These types of crimes are taken incredibly seriously by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The current assigned deputy prosecutor handling these types of cases is not one to mess with. She is diligent and extremely proactive in her prosecution tactics.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of criminal allegations (hate crime related or otherwise) immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.
