Lake Forest Park municipal court grants deferred findings and dismisses multiple cases after discovery failures

The Lake Forest Park Municipal Court on May 20 handled a heavy docket of camera- and officer-issued traffic cases, granting multiple deferred findings and dismissing numerous cases where the city did not produce discovery. The judge repeatedly approved six-month deferred findings with the condition of no moving-traffic convictions during the period and a $175 administrative fee, and granted motions to suppress and dismiss several camera-ticket matters for discovery failures.

The matters mattered to defendants on the court calendar because a deferred finding keeps a conviction off a defendant’s record if terms are met; in many other matters, the city’s failure to produce discovery prompted dismissal. Prosecutor Carmen McDonald confirmed the city screened a preapproved list of cases for deferred findings. In one motion to dismiss the city agreed to move to dismiss a speeding charge after reviewing whether speed verification had been performed.

Most deferred findings were granted under identical terms. “It’ll be continued for 6 months. No moving traffic infractions and payment of $175 admin fee,” the judge said when granting multiple deferred findings. Counsel for defendants repeatedly…