Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.76
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.76.070 (2026)

Rendering criminal assistance in the first degree

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) 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.
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, rendering criminal assistance in the first degree is a class B felony.
(b) Rendering criminal assistance in the first degree is a gross misdemeanor if it is established by a preponderance of the evidence that the actor is a relative as defined in RCW 9A.76.060 and under the age of eighteen at the time of the offense.
[ 2010 c 255 s 1; 2003 c 53 s 83; 1982 1st ex.s. c 47 s 21; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.76.070.]

Notes:

Short title—2010 c 255: "This act may be known and cited as Randy's law." [ 2010 c 255 s 2.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.
Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 47: See note following RCW 9.41.190.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 26 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1988–2025 · leading case: State v. Budik, 272 P.3d 816 (Wash. 2012).
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State v. Budik, 272 P.3d 816 (Wash. 2012). · cites it 10× “Rendering Criminal Assistance Requires an Affirmative Act or Statement ¶14 Budik was convicted of rendering criminal assistance in the first degree, a class C felony, under former *734 RCW 9A.76.070 (2003). 2 A person violates this statute if (1) “he or she renders criminal…”
State v. Pry, 452 P.3d 536 (Wash. 2019). · cites it 6× “The information charging Cruz with rendering criminal assistance lacked essential elements of the crime and therefore was constitutionally insufficient Here, Cruz was charged with rendering criminal assistance in the first degree pursuant to RCW 9A.76.070. Count 1 reads: On or…”
State v. Davis, 340 P.3d 820 (Wash. 2014). “RCW 9A.76.070(1), .080(1), .090(1). ¶17 Based on this plain language, rendering criminal assistance arises from actions intended to help an offender escape apprehension or prosecution and not from actions intended to cause or actually causing direct injury 5 to any person.”
State v. Curtiss, 250 P.3d 496 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011). “[10] Curtiss moved to suppress the 1990 taped phone conversation. Based on governing New Mexico law, which applied because Dean initiated the phone call from Albuquerque, New Mexico, the trial court denied the motion.”
State v. Curtiss, 161 Wash. App. 673 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011). “Curtiss moved to suppress the 1990 taped phone conversation.”
State v. Crutchfield, 771 P.2d 746 (Wash. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 2× “Additionally, we agree with Professor Boerner who points out that the net effect of allowing concealment to be an aggravating factor in the ordinary case is to punish the defendant for not disclosing the location of the victim's body.”
State v. Anderson, 818 P.2d 40 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 3× “By its plain terms, RCW 9A.76.070 does not require that the person rendering assistance know the degree of crime committed by the principal.”
State Of Washington, V. Christopher Lee Derri, 486 P.3d 901 (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “Significantly, RCW 9A.76.070(1) states: “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.”
State v. Day, 754 P.2d 1021 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). “I feel Mr. Walker did a superb job of defense in this case and I feel that all issues were thoroughly explored both on his direct and cross-examination and the defendant's theory of the case was adequately presented to the jury, the jury was in a position to be fully apprised of…”
State v. Davis, 315 P.3d 1105 (Wash. Ct. App. 2013). “The trial court denied the motion but ruled as a matter of law that the statute governing this crime, former RCW 9A.76.070 (2003), contains “one single unit of prosecution” consisting of “the course of conduct of obstructing the apprehension and prosecution [of the subject]” and…”
State v. Dodgen, 915 P.2d 531 (Wash. Ct. App. 1996). “Dodgen was arrested and charged with rendering criminal assistance in the first degree pursuant to RCW 9A.76.070. 1 Before trial, the parties stipulated to the statement, "Everist, a 16-year-old male, was found as skeletal remains on a wooded bank near a river.”
State v. Budik, 156 Wash. App. 123 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “Budik’s conduct, and, second, if it can, does the statute here, RCW 9A.76.070 (first degree rendering criminal assistance) do so.”
Show all 26 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.76.070(1) — 14 cases
State v. Pry, 452 P.3d 536 (Wash. 2019). “The information charging Cruz with rendering criminal assistance lacked essential elements of the crime and therefore was constitutionally insufficient Here, Cruz was charged with rendering criminal assistance in the first degree pursuant to RCW 9A.76.070. Count 1 reads: On or…”
State v. Davis, 340 P.3d 820 (Wash. 2014). “RCW 9A.76.070(1), .080(1), .090(1). ¶17 Based on this plain language, rendering criminal assistance arises from actions intended to help an offender escape apprehension or prosecution and not from actions intended to cause or actually causing direct injury 5 to any person.”
State Of Washington, V. Christopher Lee Derri, 486 P.3d 901 (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “Significantly, RCW 9A.76.070(1) states: “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.”
State v. Anderson, 818 P.2d 40 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). “By its plain terms, RCW 9A.76.070 does not require that the person rendering assistance know the degree of crime committed by the principal.”
State v. Budik, 156 Wash. App. 123 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “Budik’s conduct, and, second, if it can, does the statute here, RCW 9A.76.070 (first degree rendering criminal assistance) do so.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.76.070(2) — 1 case
State v. Anderson, 818 P.2d 40 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). “By its plain terms, RCW 9A.76.070 does not require that the person rendering assistance know the degree of crime committed by the principal.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.76.070(2)(1) — 1 case
State Of Washington, V. Joshua James Allen (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.76.070(2)(a) — 1 case
State v. Pry, 452 P.3d 536 (Wash. 2019). “The information charging Cruz with rendering criminal assistance lacked essential elements of the crime and therefore was constitutionally insufficient Here, Cruz was charged with rendering criminal assistance in the first degree pursuant to RCW 9A.76.070. Count 1 reads: On or…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.76.070(l) — 1 case
State of Washington v. Richard Perales (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).
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