Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer

Remember, a charge does not mean a conviction. You are innocent until proven guilty. As such, the state is responsible for proving each element of the crime before you can be convicted for obstructing a law enforcement officer. That said, to convict you of the crime of obstructing a law enforcement officer, the prosecutor has the burden of proving each of the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

• That on or about the date of their arrest, the defendant willfully hindered, delayed, or obstructed a law enforcement officer in the discharge of their official powers or duties
• That the defendant knew that the law enforcement officer was discharging official duties at the time
• That any of these acts occurred in the state of Washington and the particular city and county in which the defendant was charged

If a judge or jury finds from the prosecutor’s evidence that each of these elements has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then they may return a guilty verdict. However, our job is to show that your conduct was not willful. Without establishing willfulness, prosecutors cannot convict you of obstructing a law enforcement officer. Our lawyers will go above and beyond to help get your charges reduced or dismissed altogether, allowing you to move forward with minimal damage to your record and reputation.