Municipal court accepts guilty plea, suspends jail in Lake Forest Park reckless-driving case

A presiding judge in Lake Forest Park Municipal Court accepted a guilty plea July 2 from a defendant identified in court as Miss Judge after the city moved to amend a physical-control charge to reckless driving.

The plea matters because the judge accepted the amendment and imposed a two-year suspended sentence with conditions aimed at treatment and monitoring rather than immediate jail time.

On the record, city prosecutor Brianna Chow said, "City is moving to amend, down to a reckless driving from physical control pursuant to the plea agreement." The court stated there was "a factual basis" to accept the plea and found the defendant guilty of reckless driving.

The court sentenced the defendant to a two-year suspended sentence; a 364-day jail term was imposed but fully suspended. The $5,000 maximum fine for the gross misdemeanor was fully suspended. The court ordered a $200 probation monitoring fee and the standard conviction fee; the $200 may be converted to community service if the defendant demonstrates financial hardship. The court also ordered 15 hours of community service.

The judgment places the defendant on two years of probation under supervision of probation officer Charles Mitchell and requires an alcohol and drug evaluation and compliance with any recommended treatment. The judge ordered the defendant to begin recommended treatment within 45 days and to provide proof of completing a victims' panel within 30 days.

The court also addressed electronic monitoring: the defendant had been monitored by a SCRAM device, and the judge said she would "be filing an order lifting that obligation" and would fax the order to the device vendor so the device could be removed.

The judge set a review hearing for Aug. 13 at 9 a.m. for the court to check that the evaluation, treatment placement and victims' panel documentation are in the file. The judge instructed the defendant to sign releases so treatment providers may communicate with probation and the court.

In court, the defendant said, "I have a lot of remorse and shame for the events that led to this," and described beginning the process of finding a facility to complete treatment. Defense counsel joined the city's request that the court adopt the agreed resolution and asked the court to waive nonmandatory fines and fees under Blazina, noting the defendant's income and debts.

The court explained the possible maximum penalties for the amended gross misdemeanor (364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine) and confirmed the defendant's waiver of constitutional rights as part of the plea process. The court instructed the defendant on license-suspension consequences and ignition-interlock and Department of Licensing requirements as applicable.

The municipal calendar entry and sentencing paperwork will be mailed and emailed to the defendant, who participated via Zoom. The judge said the order lifting SCRAM would be faxed to the vendor and that the court would provide copies of the judgment and sentence to the defendant.