Lake Forest Park defendant pleads guilty to driving with suspended license; judge suspends sentence and fines

At a Lake Forest Park Municipal Court hearing, a defendant identified in court as Mister DeWitt pleaded guilty to driving while license suspended in the third degree after the city amended an original charge of driving with a suspended license in the second degree.

The amendment to third degree was offered by the city because the defendant had already reinstated his license, the prosecutor said. "Because the defendant is relicensed, the city has agreed to amend this to, driving while license suspended in the third degree under RCW 46.20.342(1)(c)," Miss McDonald, the city prosecutor, told the court. Judge (unnamed) accepted DeWitt's plea, found a factual basis for the conviction and imposed a sentence that was fully suspended.

The plea form and the court record state the underlying incident occurred on or about March 5, 2024, in Lake Forest Park. The judge read the constitutional rights waived by pleading guilty and confirmed that DeWitt had reviewed the written plea form and discussed it with defense counsel. DeWitt responded to the court, "Guilty." The judge said, "I will accept your plea of guilty. There's a factual basis for me to accept that plea," and later announced the disposition: "I am going to impose a, 90 day sentence with all 90 days suspended, $1,000 fine, all fine suspended, and I am going to close this matter."

The parties and the judge discussed how the Department of Licensing (DOL) had previously administratively suspended the defendant's license because of accumulated traffic violations. The court record notes prior driving-related entries on the defendant's driving record and that the DOL suspension, not this court's action, had been the basis for the administrative suspension described in the hearing.

The city requested, and the court considered, credit for time served. Defense counsel said the defendant receives Supplemental Security Income and asked the court to waive fines. The judge found the defendant statutorily indigent pursuant to the authority referenced in court and followed the recommendation on disposition, closing the matter with no active jail time or unpaid fines required.

During the hearing the prosecutor also noted communications with the Gig Harbor prosecutor about the case. Miss McDonald told the court she had an email from the Gig Harbor prosecutor indicating he would not take action in Gig Harbor if DeWitt resolved the Lake Forest Park matter here. The court record reflects that understanding was relayed to DeWitt as part of the plea discussion.

The court closed the case after accepting the plea and announcing the suspended sentence and fine. The judge told DeWitt the matter was closed and encouraged him to move forward.