State v. Stearns

FILE THIS OPINION WAS FILED FOR RECORD AT 8 A.M. ON MARCH 26, 2026 IN CLERK’S OFFICE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WASHINGTON MARCH 26, 2026 SARAH R. PENDLETON SUPREME COURT CLERK IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) ) No. 103908-5 Petitioner, ) ) En Banc v. ) ) Filed: March 26, 2026 JOHN RAY STEARNS, ) ) Respondent. ) ) MUNGIA, J.—As noted in a learned treatise, ER 404(b) has two core principles. The first core principle of ER 404(b) is that the defendant’s other misconduct is inadmissible to show the defendant’s propensity to engage in criminal activities.…