Spitting 4th degree assault

[abanfield]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington
My son Aaron who is 20 years old, attended a concert in Washington State. He lives in Portland OR. During the 3 day concert, he saw a friend of his on the other side of a concrete baricade. He tried to step over the baricade, and was stopped by a security guard. Aaron spit at the security guard, and was put in jail for 3 days. He now has a arraignment scheduled for Sept 5th. He is charged with 4th degree assault spitting on another person. During the arraignment he can plead guilty or not guilty. If he pleas not guilty they will schedule a trial date. If he pleas guilty, his case may be disposed of at the time of the appearance. The penalty could be 5years and/or $5,000 fine.
Please advice.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by abanfield

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington
My son Aaron who is 20 years old, attended a concert in Washington State. He lives in Portland OR. During the 3 day concert, he saw a friend of his on the other side of a concrete baricade. He tried to step over the baricade, and was stopped by a security guard. Aaron spit at the security guard, and was put in jail for 3 days. He now has a arraignment scheduled for Sept 5th. He is charged with 4th degree assault spitting on another person. During the arraignment he can plead guilty or not guilty. If he pleas not guilty they will schedule a trial date. If he pleas guilty, his case may be disposed of at the time of the appearance. The penalty could be 5years and/or $5,000 fine.
Please advice.

What is your legal question?

My advice would be for Aaron to grow up and learn not to spit at people (in general) and definitely not people in authority

[seniorjudge]

Spitting on someone these days could be a death sentence.

[outonbail]

5 years and a $5,000.00 fine for spitting on someone?
That must have been one hell of a loogie!

I would personally plead not guilty, ask for court appointed council and see what kind of deal the DA may offer at the next hearing.

If your son doesn't have a lengthy criminal record and hasn't made a habit of spitting on people wearing a uniform, then perhaps he'll be offered a deal and can plea to a lesser crime. Possibly something like disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace.

Tell him he'll probably stay out of jail if in the future he swallows rather than spits.

Of course in jail it doesn't really matter either way,,,,

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by outonbail

...

Tell him he'll probably stay out of jail if in the future he swallows rather than spits.

Of course in jail it doesn't really matter either way

...

You are a bad, bad man.