A teen accused of driving gang members to and from the scene of a shooting in July is expected to be sentenced to time served on a charge of first-degree rendering criminal assistance.

The 18-year-old, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, is expected to be sentenced under juvenile court guidelines. Prosecutors intend to recommend a sentence of time served for his involvement in the shooting that took place in Walla Walla in late July. At the time of the shooting, the police speculated it was gang-related. The teen could have faced up to a year in jail if sentenced as an adult.

A person is guilty of rendering criminal assistance in the first degree if he or she renders criminal assistance to a person who has committed or is being sought for murder in the first degree or any Class A felony or equivalent juvenile offense. Typically, rendering criminal assistance in the first degree is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, or a $25,000 fine, or both. However, if the person rendering criminal assistance is a relative and younger than 18 years old, it is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, or a $5,000 fine, or both.

The 20-year-old victim, a known gang member, who was still hospitalized earlier this month, was suspected last autumn of participating in another drive-by shooting. The victim was found alone just after 7 p.m., in the area of Paddock and Harvey Shaw roads, near the Paddock grain elevators. He had been shot multiple times and airlifted to a Seattle hospital.

Two other men have been charged with attempted murder in the first degree in connection with the shooting.

A person is guilty of an attempt to commit a crime if, with intent to commit a specific crime, he or she does any act which is a substantial step toward the commission of that crime.

An attempt to commit a crime is a Class A felony when the crime attempted is murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, arson in the first degree, child molestation in the first degree, indecent liberties by forcible compulsion, rape in the first degree, rape in the second degree, rape of a child in the first degree or rape of a child in the second degree. A Class A felony is punishable by a life term in prison, or a fine of $50,000, or both.

No matter the crime or the circumstances, everyone is entitled to the best defense available. If you have been arrested and face criminal charges, call the Seattle law office of Steve Karimi at (206) 621-8777 or contact him online.