Opinion ID: 1192048
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Dismissal of Criminal Charges and the Standard of Review

Text: [1] Lewis argues that the trial court erred in not dismissing the duplicative charges against him. However, no facts supporting grounds for dismissal were asserted by defendant. Although charges may be dismissed by the court on its own motion, CrR 8.3(b), a court may not dismiss a criminal charge absent a showing of arbitrary action or governmental misconduct. State v. Starrish, 86 Wn.2d 200, 207, 544 P.2d 1 (1975). Furthermore, the court is limited in that it may not substitute its judgment for that of the prosecutor. State v. Dixon, 114 Wn.2d 857, 863, 792 P.2d 137 (1990). Defendant argues that the police setting up a series of drug buys to collect evidence against the defendant constituted governmental misconduct. However, there is no evidence in the record of police misconduct with regard to the investigation and arrest. Ultimately, discretion is given to the prosecutor's decision to charge defendant with four counts for his three deliveries and one attempted delivery of marijuana. [2, 3] The trial court has the authority to make the discretionary determination regarding dismissal of charges and historically dismissal is an extraordinary remedy. State v. Cantrell, 111 Wn.2d 385, 758 P.2d 1 (1988). This court repeatedly has held that the decision of a trial court not to dismiss charges pursuant to CrR 8.3(b) will not be overturned on appeal absent a showing of manifest abuse of discretion. See State v. Burri, 87 Wn.2d 175, 550 P.2d 507 (1976); State v. Sulgrove, 19 Wn. App. 860, 578 P.2d 74 (1978). Discretion is abused only where it can be said that no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the court. State v. Blight, 89 Wn.2d 38, 41, 569 P.2d 1129 (1977). Here, there was no objection to the evidence presented that the defendant delivered or attempted delivery of quantities of marijuana to the police informant on four separate occasions. There is no showing of manifest abuse of discretion in charging four separate violations of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Therefore, we affirm the trial court's decision not to dismiss the multiple charges against Lewis.