Court Voids Adams' Theft Convictions Over Attorney Delay
Washington's Court of Appeals found a months-long wait for a public defender violated Brittany Adams' constitutional rights.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Criminal Justice
Live Poll
Should criminal charges be dismissed when public defenders are too few to meet deadlines?
The Washington State Court of Appeals overturned the first-degree theft and forgery convictions of Brittany R. J. Adams, who was accused of stealing about $500,000 from a Franklin County farm business. The court ruled the convictions cannot be refiled and voided her two-year prison sentence and $548,000 restitution order.
Why it matters
The appeals court found the statewide public defense attorney shortage was not an unforeseen emergency justifying the delays Adams experienced. The ruling shows how gaps in public defense can lead to the loss of prosecutions, even in cases involving large sums.
The convictions cannot be refiled, and the two-year prison sentence and $548,000 restitution order are voided. Prosecutors had dismissed the case and refiled it about six months later in 2024 before the appellate ruling.
The players
Brittany R. J. Adams
Adams was the defendant whose theft and forgery convictions were overturned on appeal.
Mike Bosman
Bosman is the owner of the Franklin County farm from which about $500,000 was allegedly stolen.
Washington State Court of Appeals
The appellate court issued the ruling that voided Adams' convictions and sentence based on her constitutional rights.
The details
Adams worked for Mike Bosman's farm from 2014 and was charged in March 2023 with stealing about $500,000 by fabricating expenses in farm bank records and printing checks in QuickBooks. The Court of Appeals found no records showing a specific, unpredictable emergency that justified the delays in assigning her counsel.
Timeline
2014: Adams began working for Mike Bosman's farm.
March 2023: Adams was initially charged.
July 26, 2023: Original trial date was scheduled.
August 15, 2023: Adams was assigned an attorney, eight days after the 90-day deadline.
2024: Prosecutors refiled the case about six months after dismissal.
Legal Context
The ruling applies the 90-day constitutional trial deadline for non-detained defendants in Washington, which requires timely appointment of counsel. The appeals court's conclusion that the statewide attorney shortage did not qualify as an emergency sets a limit on how such shortages can justify delays.
Defendants facing charges in Washington may see cases dismissed or voided if the state fails to provide counsel within the constitutional 90-day window. Residents of Franklin and Benton counties are affected by how public defense shortages are handled in their local courts.
The takeaway
Public defense capacity directly affects whether a case can proceed, so court delays can undo prosecutions and sentences. Tracking attorney assignment timelines is one way to see whether a case is at risk of being voided.
Further reading
For more on how courts handle defendants' rights, see Criminal Justice coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tri-City Herald.
Live Poll
Should criminal charges be dismissed when public defenders are too few to meet deadlines?
