Other LanguagesSPOKANE — Prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Sexually Violent Predator Unit are in Spokane County this week, fighting to prevent a dangerous sex offender from being unconditionally released into the community.
Terrance Laramie, 54, was convicted of attempted second-degree rape and indecent liberties by forcible compulsion in Spokane County in 1992. In 2011, Laramie stipulated that he was a sexually violent predator and agreed to be civilly committed to the state’s Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island. He has been civilly committed since that time.
In the interest of public safety, prosecutors are now seeking to prevent his unconditional release into the community.
Washington’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) law allows the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to petition for the civil commitment of violent sex offenders. The AGO carries the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Laramie continues to suffer from a mental abnormality and/or personality disorder and is likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if released.
The trial began on Jan. 3 in Spokane County Superior Court, and is expected to continue for two weeks. Assistant Attorneys General Tom Howe and Kristie Barham are handling the case for the State of Washington.
In 1990, Washington became the first state in the nation to pass a law permitting the involuntary civil commitment of sex offenders after they serve their criminal sentences. The Attorney General’s SVP Unit was established shortly thereafter.
The SVP Unit is responsible for prosecuting sex predator cases for 38 of Washington’s 39 counties (King County being the exception). In Fiscal Year 2016, the unit tried nine cases and won seven civil commitments. Two trials ended in acquittals, meaning the offenders were found to not meet the criteria to be committed as a sexually violent predator.
As of Oct. 5, 2016, 282 sexually violent predators are in the state’s Special Commitment Program.
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The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Contacts:
Peter Lavallee, Communications Director, (360) 586-0725; PeterL@atg.wa.gov