State v. Claxton

Farris, A.C.J.

Mr. Claxton appeals from a conviction of the crime of flag desecration. The facts are not in dispute. The appeal questions whether his acts were a violation of RCW 9.86.030. That statute provides:

No person shall knowingly cast contempt upon any flag, standard, color, ensign or shield, as defined in RCW 9.86.010, by publicly mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, or trampling upon said flag, standard, color, ensign or shield.

The record establishes that Mr. Claxton, while sitting in an automobile which was parked on a public street, wore a pair of dungarees which had a tear in…