Under Washington law, you commit the crime of prowling in the first degree if you enter or remain unlawfully in a motor home, or a vessel equipped with a cabin, with the intent to commit a crime. First degree prowling is a felony offense (as opposed to a misdemeanor) punishable by up to five years in state prison. Please contact a skilled criminal defense attorney now if you were charged with a crime in Washington.
How Does Washington Law Define First Degree Prowling?
RCW 9A.52.095 is the Washington statute that sets forth the crime of prowling in the first degree. Per this law, you are guilty of prowling if you:
- Enter or remain unlawfully in a motor home or a vessel equipped with a cabin, and
- Do so with the intent to commit a crime.
Note that intent is crucial to this offense. You are not guilty of prowling if you accidentally entered a motor home or vessel. You must do so with the specific intent to commit some crime.
What are the Penalties?
Prowling in the first degree is a Class C felony under Washington law. The crime is punishable by:
- Custody in state prison for up to five years, and/or
- A fine of up to $10,000.
Can a Defendant Raise a Legal Defense?
Yes. Fortunately, people facing a prowling charge can contest it with a legal defense. As mentioned above, intent is key to prowling. You can always challenge a charge by showing that you did not enter a motor home or vessel with the specific purpose to commit an offense.
Further, your criminal defense attorney can try to prove that the police somehow violated your rights. For example, maybe the authorities:
- Arrested you without probable cause,
- Coerced a confession, or
- Conducted an unlawful search and seizure.
Either of these would result in a judge reducing or dismissing your charges.
Contact Black & Askerov for Help
While a defendant can raise a legal defense to challenge a prowling charge, it will take a skilled criminal defense attorney to raise the best defense. The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Black & Askerov have over 30 years of combined experience defending clients on prowling charges. Our Seattle criminal defense lawyers also have the skill and commitment that makes all the difference in these cases. Contact us now to get the legal help you deserve!
* Main image at top by freepik
