Source: http://courts.mrsc.org/supreme/060wn2d/060wn2d0797.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 04:15:53+00:00

Document:
CRIMINAL LAW - NATURE AND ELEMENTS OF CRIMES - ATTEMPTS. The crime of "attempt to commit a crime" is an offense included in the crime itself, and a person may be convicted of an attempt to commit a crime even though it appears at the trial that the crime was consummated.
 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - CONSTRUCTION - PERSONS ENTITLED TO RAISE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS. A person may not urge the unconstitutionality of a statute unless he is harmfully affected by the particular feature of the statute alleged to be violative of the constitution.
Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court for King County, No. 36132, Eugene A. Wright, J., entered October 27, 1961. Affirmed.
Prosecution for attempted burglary. Defendant appeals from a conviction and sentence.
Irving C. Paul, Jr., for appellant.
Charles O. Carroll, Jack B. ,Regan, and Mary A. Wicks, for respondent.
Second: RCW 9.01.070 is unconstitutional because it violates the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution.
* Reported in 376 P. (2d) 446.
 See Ann. 98 A. L. R. 918; Am. Jur., Criminal Law § 65.
A. The statutes and decided cases are dispositive of defendant's first contention that "failure to consummate the crime intended" is an essential element of the crime of attempt.
In view of the statute, there is no justification to restrict the usual meaning of the word "attempt" and limit it to that which is usually described by the words "unsuccessful attempt." Attempts cover both successful and unsuccessful endeavors or efforts.
Thus, an attempt to commit a crime is specifically defined as an offense included in the crime itself. State v. Arnold, 144 Wash. 367, 368, 258 Pac. 20 (1927) (attempt is an included offense; a person cannot be convicted of attempt to commit the crime and also of the crime); see State v. Peterson, 109 Wash. 25, 186 Pac. 264, 8 A. L. R. 652 (1919) (attempt is part of the offense); State v. Romans, 21 Wash. 284, 57 Pac. 819 (1899) (charged with offense; found guilty of attempt).
In State v. Bigger, 34 Wn. (2d) 69, 208 P. (2d) 102 (1949), this court rejected the defendant's contention that his conviction of attempt could not be sustained because the proof showed only the commission of the offense charged.
The statutes and cases noted specifically negate defendant's first contention.
Defendant urges that the italicized portion of RCW 9.01.070, supra, violates the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution because it vests discretion in the trial judge to permit conviction of attempt, or to direct trial for the crime itself.
We do not reach this problem for the trial court did not discharge the jury and direct that defendant be tried for the crime of second degree burglary.
 A person may not urge the unconstitutionality of a statute unless he is harmfully affected by the particular feature of the statute alleged to be violative of the constitution. One who challenges the constitutionality of a statute must claim infringement of an interest particular and personal to himself, as distinguished from a cause of dissatisfaction with the general framework of the statute. State v. Lundquist, ante p. 397, 401, 374 P. (2d) 246 (1962), and authorities cited.

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