Gotta watch them RO's in WA

[4honor]

WA state Supreme Court holds that you can be jailed on a the vioplation of a RO whether it is a vaild order or not:

"The elements of a crime are those facts 'that the prosecution must
prove to sustain a conviction.'  Black's Law Dictionary 559 (8th ed. 2004).

It is proper to first look to the statute to determine the elements of a
crime.  Cf. State v. Emmanuel, 42 Wn.2d 799, 820, 259 P.2d 845 (1953).
The statute says in relevant part that '(w)henever an order is granted . .
. and the . . . person to be restrained knows of the order, a violation . .
. . is a class C felony if the offender has at least two previous
convictions.'  RCW 26.50.110(1), (5).  

Nothing in the statute requires the State to prove the validity of a Washington no-contact order. "



taken from an unpublished opinion:
 

   Supreme Court of the State of Washington

                            Opinion Information Sheet

Docket Number:       76156-6
Title of Case:       State of Washington, Respondent V Clay Jason
                     Miller, Petitioner.