Opinion ID: 2534191
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: is federal bank robbery a strike offense?

Text: ¶ 9 We first address whether Lavery's federal conviction was properly included as a strike offense under the POAA. An offender who has been convicted of two strike offenses must be sentenced to life without parole upon conviction for a third such offense. Former RCW 9.94A.120(4)(1998). Second degree robbery is a strike offense for purposes of the POAA. Former RCW 9.94A.030(23)( o )(1998). Foreign eign convictions count as strikes if they are comparable to a Washington strike offense. Former RCW 9.94A.030(23)(u)(1998). Defendants with equivalent prior convictions are to be treated the same way, regardless of where their convictions occurred. State v. Villegas, 72 Wash.App. 34, 38-39, 863 P.2d 560 (1993). ¶ 10 In determining whether foreign convictions are comparable to Washington strike offenses, we have devised a two part test for comparability. State v. Morley, 134 Wash.2d 588, 952 P.2d 167 (1998). In Morley, we determined that for the purposes of determining the comparability of crimes, the court must first compare the elements of the crimes. Morley, 134 Wash.2d at 605-06, 952 P.2d 167. In cases in which the elements of the Washington crime and the foreign crime are not substantially similar, we have held that the sentencing court may look at the defendant's conduct, as evidenced by the indictment or information, to determine if the conduct itself would have violated a comparable Washington statute. Morley, 134 Wash.2d at 606, 952 P.2d 167. However, [w]hile it may be necessary to look into the record of a foreign conviction to determine its comparability to a Washington offense, the elements of the charged crime must remain the cornerstone of the comparison. Facts or allegations contained in the record, if not directly related to the elements of the charged crime, may not have been sufficiently proven in the trial. Id.