CASE UPDATES: December 2011

Repeat DUI Offender:  State v. Benson:   Defendant Dwight Benson has been convicted as charged of Felony DUI, Reckless Driving and Driving with a Revoked License in the First Degree, resulting in his 17th alcohol-related offense.  In this case, he narrowly avoided a collision with one car, but rear-ended a second car that was stopped at a red light.  According to witnesses at the scene, the defendant was obviously intoxicated and unaware that he had even been involved in a collision.  The defendant was sentenced to the maximum statutory sentence on both the DUI (5 years) and Revoked License (1 year) charge.  DPA Samantha Kanner handled the prosecution of this case, with assistance from Paralegal Lori Bridgewater.  Seattle Police Detective Scott Schmidt handled the investigation.

Domestic Violence:  State v. Jormelu:    Defendant Kalanie Jormelu has pleaded guilty as charged to First Degree Assault with a Deadly Weapon Enhancement and Felony Violation of a No Contact Order with a Deadly Weapon Enhancement for stabbing his girlfriend multiple times during a violent attack.  The defendant also pleaded guilty to an additional aggravating factor because the attack was committed in the presence of a child.  The defendant was sentenced to 11 years in prison by Judge Benton.  DPAs Stephanie Knightlinger and Michael Pellicciotti handled the prosecution of the case with assistance from Victim Advocate Wendy Ross.

Assault:  State v. Pascal:   Juvenile respondent Kersan Pascal has been convicted of Second Degree Assault for shoving a woman into the path of an oncoming Metro bus in downtown Seattle last May.  The woman suffered serious injuries because she hit the bus with such force that the windshield cracked.  Witnesses at the scene reported that the respondent laughed about the incident, asking his friends, "Did you see that [woman] fly?"  The respondent has been sentenced to the statutory maximum of 15-36 weeks in the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration.  The prosecution of this case was handled by DPA Kate Meyers, and Seattle Police Detective Anthony Gaedcke led the investigation.

Sexual Assault:  State v. Steward:   Defendant Damoan Steward has been convicted of three counts of Second Degree Rape for repeatedly sexually assaulting a fellow patient, who was partially sedated, at Fairfax Hospital.   Video recordings of these incidents were captured on the hospital's surveillance system.  The defendant now faces a minimum sentence of 17 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison when he is sentenced on February 6 at 2:30 p.m. in Judge Carey's courtroom at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.  DPA Nicole Weston handled the prosecution of this case, with assistance from Paralegal Holly Gilmore.  King County Sheriff's Detective Casey Johnson led the investigation.