Opinion ID: 2629610
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Winebrenner

Text: ¶ 4 Winebrenner was arrested for DUI in 2001 and entered into a deferred prosecution. In 2005, Winebrenner was again arrested for DUI, though he later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of reckless driving. The 2005 reckless driving conviction violated the conditions of the 2001 deferred prosecution. The municipal court revoked the deferred prosecution and proceeded to sentence Winebrenner for the 2001 offense. For purposes of sentencing, the court considered the 2001 charge a first offense and sentenced Winebrenner to the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment and 30 days of electronic home monitoring. ¶ 5 The city of Seattle appealed the sentence to the King County Superior Court, arguing that the 2001 DUI was not a first offense because the 2005 offense should have been considered a prior offense under RCW 46.61.5055. The superior court agreed holding that for purposes of sentencing Winebrenner for his 2001 DUI, the 2005 reckless driving conviction was a prior offense and should have been included when determining the mandatory minimum sentence. The superior court also concluded that the deferred prosecution of the 2001 DUI itself should also have been included as a prior offense. It therefore found that Winebrenner had two prior offenses (one being the deferred prosecution) for purposes of sentencing for the 2001 DUI offense and remanded the case back to the trial court for resentencing. ¶ 6 Winebrenner appealed the superior court's decision, and the case was consolidated with Quezada's. The Court of Appeals agreed that for purposes of sentencing for the 2001 DUI offense, the 2005 conviction should have been considered a prior offense, but that the deferred prosecution itself could not be considered. Quezada, 142 Wash.App. at 52-53, 174 P.3d 129. The court concluded that the 2001 charge was Winebrenner's second offense for sentencing purposes and upheld the decision of the superior court. Id. at 53, 174 P.3d 129.