Washington criminal law sets forth two degrees of extortion. You are guilty of extortion in the first degree if you obtain someone else’s property or services and do so by a certain type of threat. Extortion in the first degree is a serious felony that is punishable by up to a decade in state prison. Please contact a skilled criminal defense attorney now if you are facing any type of criminal charge in Washington State or under federal law.
What is Extortion in the First Degree Under Washington Law?
RCW 9A.56.120 is the Washington statute that sets forth the crime of extortion in the first degree. Per this law, you are guilty of a crime if you:
- Obtain or attempt to obtain another person’s property or services, and
- Do so by means of a threat.
The specific threat that is required for an extortion in the first-degree charge includes a threat to:
- Cause bodily injury to the person threatened or to any other person,
- Cause physical damage to the property of a person other than the actor, or
- Subject the person threatened or any other person to physical confinement or restraint.
If the threat is of any nature other than the above, you will face charges of second-degree extortion.
What are the Penalties?
Extortion in the first degree is a Class B felony. The crime is punishable by:
- Custody in state prison for up to 10 years, and/or
- A maximum fine of $20,000.
Can a Defendant Raise a Legal Defense?
Yes. You can contest an extortion charge with a legal defense. Keep in mind that a large focus in these cases involves the specific nature of the threat that you made in an attempt to obtain someone else’s property. Also, recall that you are only guilty of a first-degree extortion charge if your threat was one of three possible types. A defense, then, is for you to show that your threat was not one of these types.
Your criminal defense attorney can also show that you did not threaten the alleged “victim.”
Further, note that your criminal defense lawyer can defend against a charge by showing that the police somehow violated your rights. Maybe, for example, the authorities:
- Arrested you without probable cause,
- Coerced a confession, or
- Conducted an unlawful search or seizure.
If any of these occurred, your lawyer can move to have your charges reduced or even dropped altogether.
Contact Black & Askerov for Help
While a defendant can raise a legal defense to challenge an extortion charge, it will take a skilled criminal defense attorney to raise the best defense. The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Black & Askerov have over 30 years of combined experience defending clients on a wide variety of extortion related charges. Our Seattle criminal defense lawyers also have the skill and commitment that makes all the difference in these cases. Contact us now to get the legal help you deserve!
* Main image at top by Waewkidja on Freepik
