Docket No. 83357-5 (from Court of Appeals Division I Case No. 62071-1)  Facts:  Petitioner Kenneth Thorgerson was convicted of child molestation in the Superior Court for Snohomish County.  Thorgerson subsequently appealed his conviction, asserting that the prosecutor committed misconduct when he made reference in his opening and closing statements to out of court statements made by the alleged victim that were consistent with her testimony in an effort to bolster her credibility, attempted in his closing statement to shift the burden of proof to the defense, and impugned defense counsel. Continue reading →

Docket No. 83717-1 (from Court of Appeals Division II Case No. 37539-7)  Facts: Respondent Timothy Hager was convicted of rape in the Superior Court for Pierce County after a trial in which the police officer that had questioned Hager prior to his arrest testified that Hager was evasive during questioning. Continue reading →

Docket No. 83617-5 (from Court of Appeals Division II Case No. 37089-1)  Facts: Following jury deliberations in respondent Tyrone Ford’s trial on two charges of third degree child rape in the Superior Court for Clark County, the jury initially returned a verdict of guilty on the second charge but left the verdict form for the first charge blank. After being instructed by the judge to enter a verdict, the jury returned to the jury room and subsequently found Ford guilty of the first charge as well. Continue reading →

Docket No. 83640-0 (from Court of Appeals Division II Case No. 37989-9)  Facts: Pursuant to a plea agreement, petitioner Danny Barber pled guilty to felony driving under the influence in the Superior Court for Kitsap County and was sentenced to a previously agreed upon term of incarceration. Continue reading →