Regarding the Thursday letter, “Seems judge’s son gets special deal”:
It always surprises me when a citizen with apparently little or no legal knowledge makes statements of fact based on allegations. An allegation is not a fact.
Our legal system is founded on the principle that people are “innocent until proven guilty.” This is why we have procedures including, but not limited to, Miranda warnings, the right to legal counsel and the right to a speedy trial. When a person, especially a young person (minors have more protections under the law), is charged with an offense, that does not mean the charges reflect proven facts.
The state has the ultimate burden of proof, to prove each element of each offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt. We have these procedures in place to protect the life and liberty of each person accused of any crime. Peter Lucas was charged with various offenses, admitted to certain offenses, and others were dismissed. The state dismissed the other charges likely because it accepted it could not meet the required burden of proof — i.e. there was no factual basis to support them. Also, the officer communicated to the court that he had no objections to the plea-bargain.
Mr. Lucas is a bright and responsible young person pursuing a university education who has accepted the legal consequences of his actions. Certain people may think that becoming a convicted felon is a slap on the wrist but actually it will be a life-long issue for Peter Lucas.
Community members and journalists should be careful when asserting allegations as fact. If such individuals are interested in commenting on legal issues they should become competent to do so before making unfounded statements in a widely published paper.
Minal Kode Ghassemieh
Attorney at Law
Edmonds
Editor’s note: This letter has been edited since its original publication to remove an erroneous assertion. The following correction was published April 11:
A letter published March 28 contained an incorrect assertion that an Edmonds police car rammed a vehicle driven by Peter Anthony Lucas during an incident on New Year’s Day 2009. According to court documents, Lucas was driving a vehicle that crashed into the patrol car. He later pleaded guilty to running from the scene of an injury accident.
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