State v. Britton

Curtis Britton, a first-time offender, was charged with third degree theft for taking a packet of cigarettes from Thrifty Foods. Britton paid Thrifty $150, and Thrifty requested that the district court dismiss the charge under the misdemeanors compromise statute, RCW 10.22. The State objected, arguing that the court had no statutory authority to dismiss a gross misdemeanor. The trial court disagreed and dismissed the charge. On RALJ appeal, the court interpreted the statute to include gross misdemeanors as well as misdemeanors and affirmed. Because the issue is one of public interest and also…