Council Councilmember Dunn asks for review of charges in hit-and-run death

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn wants King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg to review the charges against a 15-year-old SeaTac girl accused of killing jogger Gregory Moore of Maple Valley in a hit-and-run.

Dunn, whose District 9 includes Maple Valley, sent a formal letter Sept. 21 to Satterberg requesting a review of the facts and a reconsideration of plans to try the teen as a juvenile rather than an adult.

“Under normal circumstances I would agree that a 15-year-old should be prosecuted as a juvenile,” Dunn wrote in the letter. “However, this new set of facts suggests that the intentions and motivations of the alleged perpetrator warrant a serious review of whether she should be charged as an adult, as provided for in Washington state law.”

The King County Sheriff’s Office released information on Monday, Sept. 20 that the girl charged with second-degree murder for reportedly hitting Moore, 53, on July 18 along a Maple Valley road, may be responsible for hitting a second pedestrian on or before July 17 in the SeaTac or Des Moines area.

The teen allegedly told a friend that she planned to bump Moore in order to scare him.

The family of Moore has said that they want the girl tried as an adult in King County Superior Court rather than in Juvenile Court. If found guilty, she faces a sentence of three to six years in Juvenile Court, as she must be released by age 21. The penalties are much stiffer in adult court.

A spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says it is aware that the King County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about a possible second hit-and-run incident that may have involved the same SeaTac girl it has charged with murder in another hit-and-run.

“The King County Sheriff Office’s investigation is currently ongoing,” said Douglas Wagoner, spokesperson for the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in an Sept. 21 email in response to a letter from Dunn requesting the office to review the case and charges in light of the latest investigation. “Accordingly, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has not received the completed investigation materials necessary to determine if sufficient evidence exists to make a charging decision in this second investigation.

“If that information and evidence is referred to us by law enforcement, we will carefully review it to determine if additional charges are appropriate.”

Dunn’s letter

Hon. Dan Satterberg,

We have all watched in horror as the investigation of the murder of Maple Valley resident Greg Moore has unfolded over the past two months. While the sudden death of any community member within my district is a traumatic event, new information just learned since the apprehension of the suspect in this particular case has painted a much more intentional and nefarious picture of the actions leading up to and resulting in Greg Moore’s tragic death.

After speaking with members of the law enforcement community and individuals with direct knowledge of the facts, there appears to be evidence of a continuing pattern of predatory behavior by the alleged perpetrator, including a possible second victim of vehicular assault.

Under normal circumstances I would agree that a 15 year old should be prosecuted as a juvenile. However, this new set of facts suggests that the intentions and motivations of the alleged perpetrator warrant a serious review of whether she should be charged as an adult, as provided for in Washington state law.

Given the seriousness of the case and new information about the suspect in question, I am requesting that you review the full facts of the case and reconsider your decision regarding whether the alleged perpetrator in the death of Greg Moore should be charged as an adult in a manner that is consistent with state law.

Thank you for considering this request.

Sincerely,

Reagan Dunn

Vice Chairman

King County Council