Lake Forest Park judge dismisses some tickets, reduces many others at March 3 mitigation/contested calendar

Lake Forest Park Municipal Court Judge Pro Tem Abby McMahon presided over the mitigation and contested traffic calendar on March 3, 2025, resolving dozens of school‑zone and other traffic infractions by dismissals, reductions, continuances and default judgments.

McMahon dismissed several tickets outright, reduced others to lower fines and entered default findings for respondents who failed to appear. Many matters were school‑zone photo‑enforcement cases; McMahon emphasized that Lake Forest Park’s “school walk zone” is enforced 24 hours a day at a 25 mph limit and that the flashing lights indicate a 20 mph restriction when active. “These tickets are associated with your vehicle rather than your person, and these tickets do not go on your driving record,” McMahon told multiple respondents during the calendar.

Votes at a glance (case outcomes)

- Rahel Gebremedden (cause no. 250014019; citation 1262500002881): both infractions dismissed without prejudice; defendant told to contact the Department of Licensing to remove the vehicle from her name. - Kenny Awata (250017715): finding of committed infraction; fine reduced to $75 (committed finding). - Jeffrey Foster (250037994): finding of committed infraction; fine reduced to $75 (committed finding). - Joan Liberty (250023325): red‑light violation dismissed after judge reviewed video. - Oshunna (Oma) (case not specified in record): fine reduced from $290 to $100 (committed finding); payment due instructions to be mailed. - Corey Chase (250038745 and 250038760): one ticket dismissed (ending in 8745); the other reduced to $85 (ending in 8760) with payment instructions to follow. - Gary Fagan (250016303): infraction reduced to $85 (committed finding). - “Noel” (contest): ticket dismissed (case details not specified in the record excerpt). - Isaiah Griffith (240323437): contested ticket dismissed. - James Obert / Robert (name variant): continuance granted to April 7, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.; instructed to request discovery from the Lake Forest Park prosecutor’s office before that date. - Micah Mitchell (580152186): failed to appear; infractions found committed by default (HOV lane violation and expired registration). - Bobby Thompson (250004473): failed to appear; default finding entered but fine reduced to $85. - Mason Abdulhadi: contested hearing rescheduled (new notice to be sent; next available date listed March 19) because the defendant was out of the country when notice was mailed. - Heckma Tula Kakar (240280033): not present; infraction found committed by default. - Nicholas Machaszek (380698623): related traffic infractions dismissed to avoid duplicative outstanding matters tied to an underlying criminal case.

Most defendants who received reductions were instructed that payment paperwork would arrive by mail and that they would have roughly 30 days from receipt to pay or to request a payment plan. McMahon repeatedly advised respondents that, because the citations are vehicle‑based, the registered owner remains responsible while a vehicle remains in their name and urged people to contact the Department of Licensing to update title information when a vehicle is sold or towed and auctioned.

Court staff and the judge also processed several default adjudications after respondents failed to appear for scheduled mitigation hearings. In default cases where the judge believed a reduction would have been issued if the defendant had appeared, she reduced fines (for example, Bobby Thompson’s matter was reduced to $85) rather than imposing the full amount listed on the infraction notice.

Several defendants raised signage, timing of notices and photo‑enforcement placement as concerns; McMahon acknowledged that many motorists are unaware the city’s school walk zone is enforced 24 hours and suggested practical precautions such as using cruise control at the posted limit while driving through Lake Forest Park. For at least one defendant who reported a vehicle had been towed and later auctioned, McMahon dismissed the infractions without prejudice and directed the defendant to contact the Department of Licensing to remove the vehicle from their name.

Next steps and administrative notes: the clerk’s office will mail payment and case paperwork to the addresses on file; defendants seeking officer narratives or other discovery were instructed to request that material from the Lake Forest Park prosecutor’s office. Contested calendar matters that were continued or required re‑notice (for example, Mason Abdulhadi and James Obert) were rescheduled and the court directed staff to reissue notices where needed.