State v. Knapstad

Douglas W. Knapstad was charged with possession of a controlled substance, to wit: marijuana, with intent to manufacture or deliver. RCW 69.50.401(a)(1). The trial court dismissed the charges prior to trial on the basis that the State had insufficient evidence as a matter of law to support a conviction. The Court of Appeals affirmed, stating that the trial court had the inherent authority to dismiss an information prior to trial. We affirm and take this opportunity to clarify the procedures for pretrial dismissals of criminal charges for insufficiency of evidence to support a conviction.

Facts

D…