Felony charges dropped against Walla Walla man due to speedy trial violation
By Dan Thesman on Friday, May 31st, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Two felony charges against a Walla Walla man accused of harassment involving threats to kill back in 2020 and first-degree criminal mischief inside the antique courtroom in the Walla Walla Post Office back in 2021 have been dismissed. The reason is Lucas Warneka’s right to a speedy trial was violated.
While on pretrial release, Warneka was arrested in Spokane County and his cases in Walla Walla County were paused.
Ashley Kulberg, Warneka’s defense attorney, said her client sent a deferred disposition to the Walla Walla County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the County Clerk’s Office stating he wanted to invoke his right to a speedy trial, but the deferred disposition was never acted on.
Kulberg recently discovered the deferred disposition and used it in a motion to have the charges against Warneka dismissed with prejudice – meaning the charges cannot be refiled.
