Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.72
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.72.120 (2026)

Tampering with a witness

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) A person is guilty of tampering with a witness if he or she attempts to induce a witness or person he or she has reason to believe is about to be called as a witness in any official proceeding or a person whom he or she has reason to believe may have information relevant to a criminal investigation or the abuse or neglect of a minor child to:
(a) Testify falsely or, without right or privilege to do so, to withhold any testimony; or
(b) Absent himself or herself from such proceedings; or
(c) Withhold from a law enforcement agency information which he or she has relevant to a criminal investigation or the abuse or neglect of a minor child to the agency.
(2) Tampering with a witness is a class C felony.
(3) For purposes of this section, each instance of an attempt to tamper with a witness constitutes a separate offense.
[ 2011 c 165 s 3; 1994 c 271 s 205; 1982 1st ex.s. c 47 s 19; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.72.120.]

Notes:

Intent—2011 c 165: See note following RCW 9A.72.110.
Finding—1994 c 271: See note following RCW 9A.72.090.
Purpose—Severability—1994 c 271: See notes following RCW 9A.28.020.
Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 47: See note following RCW 9.41.190.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 117 cases (20 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: State v. Stroh, 588 P.2d 1182 (Wash. 1979).
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State v. Stroh, 588 P.2d 1182 (Wash. 1979). · cites it 18× “The respondent, an attorney, was charged with the crime of tampering with a witness, which is defined in RCW 9A.72.120: (1) A person is guilty of tampering with a witness if he attempts to induce a witness or person he has reason to believe is about to be called as a witness in…”
State v. Rempel, 785 P.2d 1134 (Wash. 1990). · cites it 4× “There are two issues: (1) Is the evidence sufficient to support defendant's conviction of tampering with a witness, RCW 9A.72.120; and (2) should the petition for review be dismissed when defendant has served his time, his whereabouts is unknown, he has not reported to a…”
State v. Hall, 230 P.3d 1048 (Wash. 2010). · cites it 3× “¶ 8 The witness tampering statute says in relevant part: (1) A person is guilty of tampering with a witness if he or she attempts to induce a witness or person he or she has reason to believe is about to be called as a witness in any official proceeding ... to: (a) Testify…”
State v. Hall, 168 Wash. 2d 726 (Wash. 2010). · cites it 3× “RCW 9A.72.120(1). A unit of prosecution can be either an act or a course of conduct.”
State v. Vars, 157 Wash. App. 482 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 3× “Hall 50 a defendant making 1,200 phone calls from jail to induce a witness to testify falsely committed only a single crime under RCW 9A.72.120, the witness tampering statute.”
State v. Hall, 147 Wash. App. 485 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 5× “Because the unit of prosecution for tampering with a witness is any one instance of attempting to induce a witness or a person to do any of the actions set forth in RCW 9A.72.120, Hall’s double jeopardy protection was not violated.”
State v. Pascal, 736 P.2d 1065 (Wash. 1987). · cites it 2× “180); tampering with a witness (RCW 9A.72.120); third degree assault (RCW 9A.”
State v. Witherspoon, 286 P.3d 996 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.72.120(1). *281 ¶2 On appeal, Witherspoon argues that we should reverse his convictions because (1) his constitutional right to a unanimous jury verdict was violated when the State failed to ask for a unanimity instruction related to alternative means of committing the…”
State v. Spencer, 45 P.3d 209 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “045(1) [1] and one count of witness tampering in violation of RCW 9A.72.120(1)(c). [2] Leanne McMullen's Testimony At trial, the State called Leanne McMullen.”
State of Washington v. Mario Torres, 198 Wash. App. 685 (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “Torres with one count of witness tampering under RCW 9A.72.120(l)(c). The case progressed toward trial, and a CrR 3.”
State Of Washington v. Yeshak K. Bedada, 463 P.3d 125 (Wash. Ct. App. 2020). “(1) A person is guilty of tampering with a witness if he or she attempts to induce a witness or person he or she has reason to believe is about to be called as a witness in any official proceeding or a person whom he or she has reason to believe may have information relevant to…”
State v. Nonog, 145 Wash. App. 802 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “The statute is structured similarly to RCW 9A.72.120, the statute that defines the crime of “tampering with a witness.”
Show all 117 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.72.120(1) — 31 cases
State v. Hall, 230 P.3d 1048 (Wash. 2010). “¶ 8 The witness tampering statute says in relevant part: (1) A person is guilty of tampering with a witness if he or she attempts to induce a witness or person he or she has reason to believe is about to be called as a witness in any official proceeding ... to: (a) Testify…”
State v. Hall, 168 Wash. 2d 726 (Wash. 2010). “RCW 9A.72.120(1). A unit of prosecution can be either an act or a course of conduct.”
State v. Embry, 287 P.3d 648 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Sanders, 833 P.2d 452 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992).
State v. Vars, 157 Wash. App. 482 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “Hall 50 a defendant making 1,200 phone calls from jail to induce a witness to testify falsely committed only a single crime under RCW 9A.72.120, the witness tampering statute.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.72.120(1)(A) — 1 case
State of Washington v. Jose Jesus Espinoza, Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.72.120(1)(a) — 30 cases
State v. Lobe, 167 P.3d 627 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
In Re the Disciplinary Proceeding Against Stroh, 644 P.2d 1161 (Wash. 1982).
State v. Vars, 237 P.3d 378 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).
State v. Williamson, 86 P.3d 1221 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).
State v. Whitfield, 134 P.3d 1203 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.72.120(1)(b) — 6 cases
State of Washington v. Jose Jesus Espinoza, Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).
State Of Washington, V. Quan H. Celestine (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
State Of Washington, V. Quan H. Celestine (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
State Of Washington v. Jesse Butler (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
State Of Washington v. John Michael Sanchez (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.72.120(1)(c) — 5 cases
State v. Spencer, 45 P.3d 209 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). “045(1) [1] and one count of witness tampering in violation of RCW 9A.72.120(1)(c). [2] Leanne McMullen's Testimony At trial, the State called Leanne McMullen.”
State v. Meneses, 238 P.3d 495 (Wash. 2010).
State v. Spencer, 111 Wash. App. 401 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002).
State v. Hooper, 997 P.2d 936 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000).
State of Washington v. Victor James Mathis (Wash. Ct. App. 2026).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.72.120(2) — 7 cases
State of Washington v. Brenten Michael Mulroy (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
State Of Washington, V. Shane Marston (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
State of Washington v. James Thomas Cardon (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
State Of Washington, V. Joshua Reed (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
State of Washington v. Jesus Torres (Wash. Ct. App. 2014).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.72.120(3) — 4 cases
Pers. Restraint Petition Of William Neal France, 199 Wash. App. 822 (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
State Of Washington, V Jonathan Jaymes Wallin (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
State Of Washington, V. Ricardo Cortez Kiner, Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2023).
State Of Washington v. Sebastian Haller (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.72.120(l)(a) — 13 cases
State v. Lobe, 140 Wash. App. 897 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
State v. Vars, 157 Wash. App. 482 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “Hall 50 a defendant making 1,200 phone calls from jail to induce a witness to testify falsely committed only a single crime under RCW 9A.72.120, the witness tampering statute.”
State v. Witherspoon, 286 P.3d 996 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “RCW 9A.72.120(1). *281 ¶2 On appeal, Witherspoon argues that we should reverse his convictions because (1) his constitutional right to a unanimous jury verdict was violated when the State failed to ask for a unanimity instruction related to alternative means of committing the…”
State v. Andrews, 293 P.3d 1203 (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Harris, 272 P.3d 299 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.72.120(l)(c) — 1 case
State of Washington v. Mario Torres, 198 Wash. App. 685 (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “Torres with one count of witness tampering under RCW 9A.72.120(l)(c). The case progressed toward trial, and a CrR 3.”
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