Chapter 9.04
OFFENSES AGAINST GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC OFFICERS*

Sections:

9.04.010    Attempt.

9.04.020    Bail jumping.

9.04.030    Compounding.

9.04.040    Criminal conspiracy.

9.04.050    Custodial interference.

9.04.060    Escape in the third degree.

9.04.070    Failure to appear.

9.04.080    Failure to disperse.

9.04.090    False reporting.

9.04.100    False swearing.

9.04.110    Introducing contraband in the third degree.

9.04.120    Making false bomb threat.

9.04.130    Obstructing a public servant.

9.04.140    Refusing to summon aid for a peace officer.

9.04.150    Rendering criminal assistance in the third degree.

9.04.160    Resisting arrest.

9.04.170    Tampering with physical evidence.

*    For statutory provisions on bribery, see RCW Ch. 9.18; for provisions on obstructing public officials, see RCW Ch. 9A.76.

9.04.010 Attempt.

A person is guilty of an attempt to commit a crime if, with intent to commit a specific crime, he does any act which is a substantial step toward the commission of that crime. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.020 Bail jumping.

Any person having been released by court order or admitted to bail with the requirement of a subsequent personal appearance before any court of this state, and who knowingly fails without lawful excuse to appear as required is guilty of bail jumping. Unless otherwise established, the failure to appear when required shall be inferred to have been without lawful excuse. Bail jumping is a misdemeanor if the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.030 Compounding.

A. A person is guilty of compounding if:

1. He requests, accepts or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit pursuant to an agreement or understanding that he will refrain from initiating a prosecution for a crime; or

2. He confers, or offers or agrees to confer, any pecuniary benefit upon another pursuant to an agreement or understanding that such other person will refrain from initiating a prosecution for a crime.

B. In any prosecution under this section, it is a defense if established by a preponderance of the evidence that the pecuniary benefit did not exceed an amount which the defendant reasonably believed to be due as restitution or indemnification for harm caused by the crime. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.040 Criminal conspiracy.

A person is guilty of criminal conspiracy when, with intent that conduct constituting a crime be performed, he agrees with one or more persons to engage in or cause the performance of such conduct, and any one of them takes a substantial step in pursuance of such agreement. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.050 Custodial interference.

A person is guilty of custodial interference if, knowing that he has no legal right to do so, he takes or entices from legal custody any incompetent person or other person entrusted by authority of law to the custody of another person or institution. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.060 Escape in the third degree.

A person is guilty of escape in the third degree if he escapes from custody. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.070 Failure to appear.

Any person legally cited or directed to appear in court who fails to do so without good cause or excuse, to be ascertained by a hearing before the court, shall be guilty of the separate offense of failure to appear and may be punished accordingly. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.080 Failure to disperse.

A person is guilty of failure to disperse if he congregates with a group of three or more other persons and there are acts of conduct within that group which create a substantial risk of causing injury to any person, or substantial harm of property; and he refuses or fails to disperse when ordered to do so by a peace officer of other public servant engaged in enforcing or executing the law. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.090 False reporting.

A person is guilty of false reporting if with knowledge that the information reported, conveyed or circulated is false, he initiates or circulates a false report or warning of an alleged occurrence or impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe, or emergency knowing that such false report is likely to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly, or transportation facility, or to cause public inconvenience of alarm. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.100 False swearing.

A person is guilty of false swearing if he makes a false statement, which he knows to be false, under an oath required or authorized by law. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.110 Introducing contraband in the third degree.

A person is guilty of introducing contraband in the third degree if he knowingly and unlawfully provides contraband to any person confined in a detention facility. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.120 Making false bomb threat.

Any person who falsely communicates, by any means, a threat of the placement of a bomb or any other explosive device as a result of which threat any public or private activity is inconvenienced or delayed shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.130 Obstructing a public servant.

Every person who, (1) without lawful excuse refuses or knowingly fails to make or furnish any statement; report or information lawfully required of him by a public servant, or (2) in any such statement or report makes any knowingly untrue statement to a public servant, or (3) knowingly hinders, delays, or obstructs any public servant in the discharge of his official powers or duties; shall be guilty of obstructing a public servant. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.140 Refusing to summon aid for a peace officer.

A person is guilty of refusing to summon aid for a peace officer, if, upon request by a person he knows to be a peace officer, he unreasonably refuses or fails to summon aid for such peace officer. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.150 Rendering criminal assistance in the third degree.

A person is guilty of rendering criminal assistance in the third degree if he renders criminal assistance to a person who has committed a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.160 Resisting arrest.

A person is guilty of resisting arrest if he intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a peace officer from lawfully arresting him. (Ord. 383 (part), 1979)

9.04.170 Tampering with physical evidence.

A person is guilty of tampering with physical evidence if, having reason to believe that an official proceeding is pending or about to be instituted and acting without legal right or authority, he:

A. Destroys, mutilates, conceals, removes or alters physical evidence with intent to impair its appearance, character, or availability in such pending or prospective official proceeding; or

B. Knowingly presents or offers any false physical evidence.

“Physical evidence” as used in this section includes any article, object, document, record or other thing of physical substance. (Ord, 383 (part), 1979)