State v. Estrella

Facts of Case

At issue in this case is whether the trial court properly imposed an exceptional sentence below the standard range. We hold that it did not, and reverse and remand for resentencing.

On September 25, 1988, Francis Lester Estrella, the defendant herein, broke into a farm supply store in Spokane. When the police responded to the resulting power outage alarm, they saw the defendant dive into a pile of tires. The police handcuffed him, searched his backpack and found 14 cartons of cigarettes and more than $5,000 in cash. They also found burglary tools.

The defendant was arrested and…