Opinion ID: 2544268
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Citation to the Wrong Statute

Text: Although the above reasons should be adequate to conclude the information is insufficient, there's more. After failing to expressly set forth the essential elements of the attempt crime and failing to provide factual allegations to support the attempt charge, the State mistakenly cited the solicitation statute, not the attempt statute. While an error in citation alone may not be grounds for reversing a conviction without a showing of prejudice, see CrR 2.1(a)(1), when combined with the other errors, the citation error here has more than mere technical significance. As mentioned above, the actus reus for purposes of solicitation by itself does not amount to a substantial step for attempt. See Gay, 4 Wash.App. at 839-40, 486 P.2d 341.