Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Nick Brown

AG prosecutors win conviction of Spokane man for first-degree rape

SPOKANE — A Spokane County jury today convicted Michael Phillips of first degree rape. Prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Sexually Violent Predator Unit won the conviction in a trial that began on Dec. 15.

Phillips, 33, sexually assaulted a Spokane woman in May 2008.  He forced her to engage in sexual intercourse by threatening her with what appeared to be a gun. Police who arrested Phillips after the assault found a BB gun in his jacket and noted that it looked like a real gun.

Attorney General’s Office investigation leads to $90 million “cramming” payout from T-Mobile

More than 230,000 Washington customers may be entitled to restitution for unauthorized charges “crammed” onto bills

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced a $90 million nationwide agreement with T-Mobile, resolving allegations the company placed unauthorized third-party service charges on subscribers’ telephone bills.

Attorney General secures guilty plea from former prosecutor who helped fugitive

SPOKANE — The Attorney General’s Office has reached a plea agreement with a former Spokane deputy prosecutor who helped a man avoid arrest earlier this year.

Marriya Wright today pleaded guilty to and was sentenced for second-degree rendering criminal assistance, a gross misdemeanor. 

“Prosecutors are held to a high standard in upholding the law, and Ms. Wright’s actions fell short of that,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson said. “I’m pleased my office secured a result that will hold her accountable.”

Marijuana ban in Pierce County upheld by judge, agrees with Attorney General’s opinion

Attorney General’s Office presented arguments to defend I-502, uphold will of the voters

TACOMA — For the fifth time, a superior court judge today agreed with an opinion issued by the Attorney General’s Office earlier this year, concluding that nothing in Initiative 502 overrides local governments’ authority to regulate or ban marijuana businesses. This allows I-502 to continue to be implemented. Every court to consider this issue has now agreed with the Attorney General’s opinion.

Attorney General's Office seeks to prevent release of Aberdeen sex offender into community

MONTESANO — Attorney General Bob Ferguson has filed a petition in Grays Harbor County Superior Court seeking to civilly commit an Aberdeen-area sex offender and prevent his release into the community.

Patrick Truxillo, 47, was convicted of first-degree rape and first-degree burglary in 2002 and sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in prison.

Local marijuana ban upheld by Benton County judge, agreeing with Attorney General’s opinion

Attorney General’s Office presented arguments to defend I-502, uphold will of the voters

KENNEWICK — A third superior court judge today agreed with an opinion issued by the Attorney General’s Office this year, concluding that nothing in Initiative 502 overrides local governments’ authority to regulate or ban marijuana businesses.  Every court to consider this issue has now agreed with the Attorney General’s opinion.

Attorney General seeks to outlaw malicious ticket bots

Scalpers use software to unfairly drive up event ticket prices, often quintupling face value

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson has proposed legislation with bipartisan support to outlaw 'ticket bot' software used to inflate online ticket prices, often by four times or more their face value.

Ticket bots — short for robots — are computer programs used by scalpers to buy large quantities of tickets online to popular concerts and sporting events. Bots often target the most desirable seats.

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