Opinion ID: 2546552
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ongoing pattern of the same criminal conduct

Text: ¶ 42 The Hughes trial court found an ongoing pattern of the same criminal conduct to be an aggravating factor. We found no cases discussing this aggravating factor per se, [7] and the issue was not briefed beyond a conclusory assertion. Yet, we know that if this factor considered solely prior convictions it would be insufficient to support an exceptional sentence under Washington law. Instead, the factor must consider the combination of the various similar offenses and the heightened harm or culpability that pattern indicates. Like the conclusion that a presumptive sentence for multiple current offenses is too lenient, this determination implicitly must involve factual findings beyond the existence of prior convictions. Per Blakely, those factual findings are for a jury. ¶ 43 Hughes' exceptional sentence is vacated.