State v. Paul

— In a criminal prosecution for failure to pay restitution, the court forfeited the defendant’s cash bail to offset the debt. When a criminal defendant satisfies bail conditions by appearing for trial, bail may not be forfeited. We therefore reverse.

FACTS

In 1995, Anita Paul was convicted for first degree theft of public assistance. Her sentence included restitution. When she failed to make payments, she was arrested and brought before the Okanogan County Superior Court on November 7, 1997. She was charged with failing to pay restitution and with failing to report to her community corrections…