March 1, 2009 Case Updates: March 2009State v. Ali: Defendant Said Omar Ali was convicted, as charged, of five counts of First-Degree Robbery, two counts of Attempted First-Degree Robbery, and one count of First-Degree Assault for his role in a series of random, violent street robberies in the University District, Greenlake and Wallingford neighborhoods that left seven individuals victimized, including one who was injured with a stab wound to the stomach. The defendant now faces a minimum of 26 years in prison. Senior DPA Corinn Bohn handled the prosecution of this case. Return to the News State v. Hernandez: Defendant Mario Hernandez was convicted of First-Degree Assault, Drive By Shooting, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm for a gang-related shooting that occurred in Federal Way. At trial, prosecutors presented testimony from a current gang member who explained gang rules and customs so that the jury could better understand why the shooting took place. As part of his defense, the defendant tried, unsuccessfully, to deny that he was a gang member. He, instead, insisted that he was a member of a "clan." The defendant now faces a minimum of 15 years in prison. Senior DPA Dan Soukup and DPA Mafe Rajul handled the prosecution of this case. Return to the News State v. Miller: Defendant Ronald Wayne Miller was convicted of Attempted First-Degree Murder and Witness Tampering for shooting a man eight times outside of a carwash in South Seattle and for threatening a witness not to "snitch." Several individuals witnessed the shooting, but were reluctant to report what they saw. DPAs assigned to the case successfully convinced several witnesses to come forward, and also submitted into evidence audio recordings of telephone calls the defendant made from jail, in which he attempted to establish a false alibi. The defendant now faces up to 28 years in prison. Senior DPA Corinn Bohn and DPA Emily Peterson handled the prosecution of this case. Return to the News State v. Rodriguez: Defendant Noel Rodriguez was convicted of First-Degree Incest, Second-Degree Assault, Felony Harassment, DV, Unlawful Imprisonment, Interfering with DV Reporting, and Witness Tampering. The victim in this case is both the defendant's stepdaughter and spouse. The victim came to the United States, as a teenager, from Nicaragua to live with her mother and the defendant. Shortly after, the defendant began abusing the victim, impregnated her, divorced her mother, and married her. The PAO is recommending an exceptional sentence of 14 years in prison because the jury, in addition to finding the defendant guilty of all counts, found that the defendant had a history of DV convictions and committed his crimes within the presence of the victim's minor child, both of which are aggravating factors under the State's sentencing laws. DPA Tomàs Gahan handled the prosecution of this case. Return to the News State v. Wrenn: Defendant Douglas Wrenn was convicted of two counts of Second-Degree Assault for pointing a gun at two passengers in another vehicle during a "road rage" incident. A license plate number lead police to the defendant's residence, and a subsequent police search resulted in the discovery of the gun, which was hidden in the laundry room. The defendant now faces a sentence of over one year in prison. DPA Val Richey handled the prosecution of this case. Return to the News | 