H-3599.1          _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 2524

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Ludwig, Vance, Riley, Bray, Roland, D. Sommers, Heavey, R. Meyers, Paris, Van Luven, Bowman, May, Broback, Wynne, Mitchell, Rasmussen, P. Johnson and Anderson

 

Read first time 01/20/92.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.Increasing sentences for persons who commit certain crimes while armed with a firearm.


     AN ACT Relating to sentencing persons for crimes committed while armed with a firearm; amending RCW 9.94A.310, 9A.36.041, 9A.36.070, 9A.52.100, 9A.56.050, 9A.76.020, 9A.76.130, and 9.94A.370; and prescribing penalties.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     Sec. 1.  RCW 9.94A.310 and 1991 c 32 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    

 

(1)                                   TABLE 1

                                        

                                  Sentencing Grid

 

SERIOUSNESS

SCORE                                OFFENDER SCORE

                                                                       9 or

       0         1      2     3     4     5    6      7     8   more

................................................................

XV   Life Sentence without Parole/Death Penalty

................................................................

XIV  23y4m 24y4m 25y4m 26y4m 27y4m 28y4m 30y4m 32y10m 36y  40y

     240-  250-  261-  271-  281-  291-  312-  338-   370- 411-

     320   333   347   361   374   388   416   450    493  548

................................................................

XIII 12y   13y   14y   15y   16y   17y   19y   21y    25y  29y

     123-  134-  144-  154-  165-  175-  195-  216-   257- 298-

     164   178   192   205   219   233   260   288    342  397

................................................................

XII   9y  9y11m 10y9m 11y8m 12y6m 13y5m 15y9m 17y3m 20y3m 23y3m            93-  102-  111-  120-  129-  138-  162-  178-  209- 240-

      123  136   147   160   171   184   216   236   277  318 .................................................................

XI   7y6m  8y4m 9y2m 9y11m 10y9m 11y7m 14y2m 15y5m 17y11m 20y5m

      78-   86-  95-  102-  111-  120-  146-  159-   185-  210-              102   114  125  136   147   158   194   211    245   280

.................................................................

X    5y   5y6m  6y   6y6m   7y   7y6m  9y6m 10y6m  12y6m 14y6m

      51-   57-  62-   67-   72-   77-   98-  108-   129-  149-          

      68    75   82    89    96    102   130  144    171   198

.................................................................

IX   3y   3y6m  4y   4y6m   5y   5y6m  7y6m  8y6m  10y6m 12y6m

      31-  36-  41-   46-    51-   57-  77-   87-   108-  129-

      41    48   54    61    68    75   102   116    144   171

.................................................................

VIII 2y      2y6m  3y   3y6m   4y   4y6m  6y6m  7y6m   8y6m 10y6m

      21-  26-  31-   36-   41-   46-   67-   77-    87-  108-

      27      34   41    48    54    61    89    102    116  144

.................................................................

VII  18m   2y  2y6m   3y   3y6m   4y   5y6m  6y6m   7y6m  8y6m

      15-   21-  26-   31-   36-   41-   57-   67-    77-   87-

      20    27   34    41    48    54    75    89    102   116

.................................................................

VI   13m   18m  2y   2y6m   3y   3y6m  4y6m  5y6m   6y6m  7y6m

      12+-  15-  21-   26-   31-   36-   46-   57-    67-   77-             14    20   27    34    41    48    61    75     89   102

.................................................................

V    9m    13m  15m   18m  2y2m  3y2m   4y    5y     6y    7y

       6-   12+- 13-   15-   22-   33-   41-   51-    62-   72-

      12    14   17    20    29    43    54    68     82    96

.................................................................

IV   6m    9m   13m   15m   18m  2y2m  3y2m  4y2m   5y2m  6y2m

      3-    6-   12+-  13-   15-   22-   33-   43-     53-  63-

      9    12    14    17    20    29    43    57      70   84

.................................................................

III  2m    5m   8m    11m   14m   20m  2y2m  3y2m   4y2m   5y

      1-    3-   4-     9-   12+-  17-   22-   33-    43-   51-

      3     8   12     12    16    22    29    43     57    68

.................................................................

II           4m   6m     8m   13m   16m   20m  2y2m   3y2m  4y2m

      0-90   2-   3-     4-   12+-  14-   17-   22-    33-   43-

      Days   6    9      12   14    18    22    29     43    57

.................................................................

I                    3m     4m    5m    8m   13m   16m    20m  2y2m

      0-60  0-90  2-     2-    3-    4-   12+-  14-    17-   22-

      Days   5      6     8     12   14    18     22    29

.................................................................

 

NOTE:  Numbers in the first horizontal row of each seriousness category represent sentencing midpoints in years(y) and months(m).  Numbers in the second and third rows represent presumptive sentencing ranges in months, or in days if so designated.  12+ equals one year and one day.

     (2) For persons convicted of the anticipatory offenses of criminal attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy under chapter 9A.28 RCW, the presumptive sentence is determined by locating the sentencing grid sentence range defined by the appropriate offender score and the seriousness level of the completed crime, and multiplying the range by 75 percent.

     (3) The following additional times shall be added to the presumptive sentence if the offender or an accomplice was armed with a deadly weapon, other than a firearm, as defined in this chapter and the offender is being sentenced for one of the crimes listed in this subsection.  If the offender or an accomplice was armed with a deadly weapon, other than a firearm, and the offender is being sentenced for an anticipatory offense under chapter 9A.28 RCW to commit one of the crimes listed in this subsection, the following times shall be added to the presumptive range determined under subsection (2) of this section:

     (a) 24 months for Rape 1 (RCW 9A.44.040), Robbery 1 (RCW 9A.56.200), or Kidnapping 1 (RCW 9A.40.020)

     (b) 18 months for Burglary 1 (RCW 9A.52.020)

     (c) 12 months for Assault 2 (RCW 9A.36.020 or 9A.36.021), Escape 1 (RCW 9A.76.110), Kidnapping 2 (RCW 9A.40.030), Burglary 2 of a building other than a dwelling (RCW 9A.52.030), Theft of Livestock 1 or 2 (RCW 9A.56.080), or any drug offense.

     (4) If an offender or an accomplice was armed with a firearm during the commission of a felony, including but not limited to a felony that includes an element requiring the offender or an accomplice to be armed with a firearm, the following additional times shall be added to the presumptive sentence for the felony.  If the offender or an accomplice was armed with a firearm and the offender is being sentenced for an anticipatory offense under chapter 9A.28 RCW, the following times shall be added to the presumptive range determined under subsection (2) of this section:

     (a) For a first conviction for an offense committed while armed with a firearm, 60 months;

     (b) For a second conviction for an offense committed while armed with a firearm, 90 months;

     (c) For a third or subsequent conviction for an offense committed while armed with a firearm, 120 months.

     (5) If an offender or an accomplice was armed with a firearm and fired upon a law enforcement officer while resisting arrest under RCW 9A.76.040, 120 months shall be added to the presumptive sentence.

     (6) The following additional times shall be added to the presumptive sentence if the offender or an accomplice committed the offense while in a county jail or state correctional facility as that term is defined in this chapter and the offender is being sentenced for one of the crimes listed in this subsection.  If the offender or an accomplice committed one of the crimes listed in this subsection while in a county jail or state correctional facility as that term is defined in this chapter, and the offender is being sentenced for an anticipatory offense under chapter 9A.28 RCW to commit one of the crimes listed in this subsection, the following times shall be added to the presumptive sentence range determined under subsection (2) of this section:

     (a) Eighteen months for offenses committed under RCW 69.50.401(a)(1)(i) or 69.50.410;

     (b) Fifteen months for offenses committed under RCW 69.50.401(a)(1)(ii), (iii), and (iv);

     (c) Twelve months for offenses committed under RCW 69.50.401(d).

     For the purposes of this subsection, all of the real property of a state correctional facility or county jail shall be deemed to be part of that facility or county jail.

     (((5))) (7) An additional twenty-four months shall be added to the presumptive sentence for any ranked offense involving a violation of chapter 69.50 RCW if the offense was also a violation of RCW 69.50.435.

 

     Sec. 2.  RCW 9A.36.041 and 1987 c 188 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) A person is guilty of assault in the fourth degree if, under circumstances not amounting to assault in the first, second, or third degree, or custodial assault, he or she assaults another.

     (2) Assault in the fourth degree, if committed while armed with a firearm is a class C felony, otherwise it is a gross misdemeanor.

 

     Sec. 3.  RCW 9A.36.070 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.36.070 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) A person is guilty of coercion if by use of a threat he compels or induces a person to engage in conduct which the latter has a legal right to abstain from, or to abstain from conduct which he has a legal right to engage in.

     (2) "Threat" as used in this section means:

     (a) To communicate, directly or indirectly, the intent immediately to use force against any person who is present at the time; or

     (b) Threats as defined in RCW 9A.04.110(25)(a), (b), or (c).

     (3) Coercion, if committed while armed with a firearm, is a class C felony, otherwise it is a gross misdemeanor.

 

     Sec. 4.  RCW 9A.52.100 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 47 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) A person is guilty of vehicle prowling in the second degree if, with intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein, he enters or remains unlawfully in a vehicle other than a motor home, as defined in RCW 46.04.305, or a vessel equipped for propulsion by mechanical means or by sail which has a cabin equipped with permanently installed sleeping quarters or cooking facilities.

     (2) Vehicle prowling in the second degree, if committed while armed with a firearm, is a class C felony, otherwise it is a gross misdemeanor.

 

     Sec. 5.  RCW 9A.56.050 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.56.050 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) A person is guilty of theft in the third degree if he commits theft of property or services which does not exceed two hundred and fifty dollars in value.

     (2) Theft in the third degree, if committed while armed with a firearm, is a class C felony, otherwise it is a gross misdemeanor.

 

     Sec. 6.  RCW 9A.76.020 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.76.020 are each amended to read as follows:

     ((Every)) (1) A person who, (((1))) (a) without lawful excuse ((shall)) refuses or knowingly fails to make or furnish ((any)) a statement, report, or information lawfully required of ((him)) the person by a public servant, or (((2))) (b) in any such statement or report ((shall)) makes ((any)) a knowingly untrue statement to a public servant, or (((3) shall)) (c) knowingly hinders, delays, or obstructs ((any)) a public servant in the discharge of his or her official powers or duties; ((shall be)) is guilty of a misdemeanor.

     (2) A person armed with a firearm who knowingly hinders, delays, or obstructs a public servant in the discharge of his or her official powers or duties is guilty of a class C felony.

 

     Sec. 7.  RCW 9A.76.130 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.76.130 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) A person is guilty of escape in the third degree if he or she escapes from custody.

     (2) Escape in the third degree, if committed while armed with a firearm, is a class C felony, otherwise it is a gross misdemeanor.

 

     Sec. 8.  RCW 9.94A.370 and 1989 c 124 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) The intersection of the column defined by the offender score and the row defined by the offense seriousness score determines the presumptive sentencing range (see RCW 9.94A.310, (Table 1)).  The additional time for deadly weapon findings or for ((those offenses)) other circumstances enumerated in RCW 9.94A.310(((4) that were committed in a state correctional facility or county jail)) (3) through (7) shall be added to the entire presumptive sentence range.  The court may impose any sentence within the range that it deems appropriate.  All presumptive sentence ranges are expressed in terms of total confinement.

     (2) In determining any sentence, the trial court may rely on no more information than is admitted by the plea agreement, or admitted, acknowledged, or proved in a trial or at the time of sentencing.  Acknowledgement includes not objecting to information stated in the presentence reports.  Where the defendant disputes material facts, the court must either not consider the fact or grant an evidentiary hearing on the point.  The facts shall be deemed proved at the hearing by a preponderance of the evidence.  Facts that establish the elements of a more serious crime or additional crimes may not be used to go outside the presumptive sentence range except upon stipulation or when specifically provided for in RCW 9.94A.390(2) (c), (d), and (e).