FOLLOWUP: Drug-treatment sentence for Michael E. Maine

As recommended by prosecutors in a plea agreement, residential drug treatment was the main sentence ordered Friday for Michael E. Maine, who pleaded guilty to selling heroin at the now-closed Junction bar his family owned, the Corner Pocket. Court documents from the Friday afternoon sentencing hearing show that King County Superior Court Judge Barbara Mack ordered the residential version of the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative for Maine, who is 39. He is now ordered to spend three to six months in residential treatment, followed by two years of community custody (probation). The sentence also includes a year of suspended jail time. As reported here earlier this month, Maine pleaded guilty to three drug charges and one count of attempted unlawful gun possession. The Corner Pocket has been closed since police served warrants there and at Maine’s West Seattle home the night of his arrest last December; what’s next for the space is not yet publicly known.

Double Dub Resident May 20, 2017 (6:24 am)

Oh come on!! Instead of DOSA, shouldn’t this be DDOSA, for Drug Dealer Offender Sentencing Alternative? Not to mention the gun charge!!

Clinker May 20, 2017 (8:18 am)

Drug courts reduce recividism rates by 50%. People have done lots of studies. The goal of incarceration in this state is to rehabilitate, not to simply punish.

Simple punitive incarceration just generates more criminal behavior. From an economic standpoint AND a compassionate human standpoint it leads to worse outcomes.

I’m glad we are using science to guide policy decisions in this area.
- Double Dub Resident May 20, 2017 (9:43 am)
  
  First off, he is a drug DEALER.
  
  Second, approx. 9 out of 10 people who actually break their addiction for the long term, do so without professional help. This is from Bob Groeschell who ran the chemical dependency program at Seattle Central when I went there.
  
  Third, programs like deferred prosecution for DUI, the only thing a person needs to do is not get caught for a certain amount of time for a success story.
  
  Fourth, when I interned at a chemical dependency program that specialized in court ordered outpatient treatment, I saw person, after person, after person, after person fail the program, and constantly try to Swindle their way through it.
  
  Fifth, there are investigations going on the news right now about counselors cheating the system and saying patients are complying when they are not.
  
  Sixth, you can look at the sampling from stories IN the WSB and see those stories show a horrendous outcome of success for DOSA.
  
  I’ve seen it first hand. Almost every person who agrees to DOSA, does so, not because they want to get better, but because they want to stay out of jail.
- Hicks May 21, 2017 (8:24 pm)
  
  You’re correct that drug courts reduce recidivism, and they’re a useful tool to bring drug offenders around to participate in society. But remember that Mikey is well into his 40s – he’s not a young kid at a crossroads who is likely to get a job and start being his better self. He’s a career criminal who already has had a second, third and more chances. He was well known to law enforcement and, I think, hardly a good candidate for rehabilitation. The time for drug court was 20 years ago, alas, when it didn’t exist.

d May 20, 2017 (6:55 am)

I hope he can be rehabilitated everybody deserves a second chance or more no human being should ever be thrown away basically do to others as you would have done to you or youre favorite person good luck Mike

anonyme May 20, 2017 (7:29 am)

I’d like to know what the recidivism rate is among DOSA “clients”. It’s time to stop throwing money at programs that don’t work, and then allowing criminals back in our neighborhoods.

KBear May 20, 2017 (7:54 am)

Anonyme, you say you’d like to know the recidivism rate. You’re right, that would be a good thing to know before assuming alternative sentencing is a a waste of money. Do you have any idea how much incarceration costs?

WSB May 20, 2017 (8:25 am)

Googling the phrase:

DOSA recidivism

brings up many results. First one is a PDF of a study report. Was going to directly link it here but its server seems a bit janky. Its key findings section mentioned this (from the cached version):

After 36-months in the community, 52% of residential DOSA participants had new convictions compared to 58% of similar offenders sentenced to prison-based DOSA

I don’t see a comparison to recidivism among those who were incarcerated and not treated, though.

Anyway, for anyone interested, seems to be a lot to explore. – TR

anonyme May 20, 2017 (9:50 am)

KBear, you’re right. It would also be a good thing to know the cost of DOSA vs. incarceration before assuming that it’s not a waste of money. Even a direct comparison of DOSA time vs. incarceration time does not give us a complete picture.

What isn’t included in any of these calculations is the cost to victims, which is difficult to assess due to the many layers of harm – from property loss, time, emotional distress, etc. Then there is the cost of wasted time and effort by police to track, catch, and arrest these criminals over and over again; the cost to the justice system to process them; and the cost to communities in terms of cleaning up drug camps and their related debris.

Clearly we need new approaches on every level.

Al May 20, 2017 (11:38 am)

So he sold drugs to an officer and gets no jail time. This makes no sense

Marty May 20, 2017 (2:15 pm)

I sure would like to see the corner pocket re-open. Such a unique place.

Checkyersource May 20, 2017 (3:14 pm)

I don’t get it. People are acting like he got popped for heroin use or addiction!? He is a convicted drug dealer, selling heroin from his bar. And guess what? The 3 or so times he sold drugs over his bar during business hours to an undercover cop, are not the only times this occurred. This was obviously a bustling heroin distribution center blatantly doling out narcotics without regard for law or life, in the very heart of west Seattle!?!

Anyone who lives in west sesttle, and has family here, and thinks this career criminal (who profits on the misery and addiction of our community) should not be put away for a long prison sentence- is obviously high!!

Excuse me, but WTF do you have to do in this town to fall from grace and receive a proper reprimand? Is it any wonder there is no order or respect for common civility in this beautiful city turned stinking toilet?

Double Dub Resident May 21, 2017 (5:48 am)

As one mayor candidate said, this city is afraid to make the distinction between a drug dealer and a drug addict, and it needs to stop
- WSB May 21, 2017 (5:59 am)
  
  This wasn’t a city case and not city charges and not city sentencing. Michael Maine was charged with and pleaded guilty to felonies, prosecuted by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on behalf of the state, under this section of the Revised Code of Washington:
  
  http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=69.50.401
  
  The DOSA law is linked in the story. It is not a new program – it was enacted more than 20 years ago. Just trying to keep the jurisdictions straight here. State legislators would be accountable for changing it. – TR
  - Double Dub Resident May 21, 2017 (8:10 am)
    
    1. I never said DOSA was a new law.
    
    2. Whatever the jurisdiction is on this particular case, it does not take away from the fact that this city has gone stupid in its attempt to be the superior PC city where everyone is a winner and hugs abound.
    
    Suspects are no longer aloud to be called suspects, now they’re “community members”.
    
    And now King County has decided to give a DOSA Sentencing to a drug DEALER.
Marie May 24, 2017 (9:08 am)

AGREED 100%

flimflam May 20, 2017 (4:22 pm)

this type of sentencing is pretty weird to me. there doesn’t really seem to be much consequence to any crimes at this point.

Checkyersource May 21, 2017 (11:32 am)

“KC McGruff here! Ok, let’s set up round the clock surveillance- I want all my best men on this case! We’ll establish a relationship between this punk and our undercover detectives, and organize multiple sting operations- then we’ll search his home! Let’s take a bite out of… No, let’s give a hug to crime!! Maybe we can give him a cursory punishment, like residential treatment, or probation! It’s a dangerous , costly operation, but everyone deserves unlimited chances!!”

Ace20604 May 22, 2017 (3:24 am)

Alot of truth in what people are saying here, some left out. I have worked the nights in many beloved restaurant and bars in West Seattle. Probably know or had positive interactions by many who read and post here. So I will take a risk here and make a stand to say, this is not the only place where this happens in our mostly wonderful community. Wars are ended by annihilation or surrender, not engaging is no surety of a win. Troubling everyone the most is the major increase in property crimes and genuine safety concerns. We tolerate drugs like alcohol and marijuana, but not the damage to others caused by people using them, nor should we. Decriminalize drugs ( legalisation only adds complexity to an overburdened system.Plenty of laws to enforce on child neglect, driving while impaired, tax evasion, theft and violence) people that are violent or steal from others should be punished, use of any substance or idealogy is no excuse for improper action. Many lifestyle choices can be offensive to some, but if we live free then it’s up to a social discussion not a criminal action. People start drugs on thier own, all stop by making thier own personal choice. Many programme can help that choice. In the past I felt disinfranchied the way I was viewed by some, less likely to report crimes since I was also a “criminal” by smoking weed, Since no longer at war in my own country, I feel a new sense of we’re all in this together. Those that continue crimes towards others be the focus of policing, a battle we should never quit. Thank-you to the sheep dogs that protects us. I strongly believe in freedom in one’s own space as opposed to control as a pathway to peace. If by decriminalized drugs police were able to focus on violence and thefts, judge’s didn’t care about drug’s but the actions commited, everyone was incorporated to fight against those willing to commit evil. Feel there would be fewer stories of innocence people hurt or honest people getting robbed.

ScubaFrog May 23, 2017 (9:34 pm)

He ought to do a few years in prison, at least. Even he should know that he owes society that debt, if he has any semblance of manhood and dignity left.

I’d wager he’s out selling again in 6mos, killing people with overdoses, running around with more firearms.

Marie May 24, 2017 (9:01 am)

I am disgusted by this. He needs jail time, he is a SEASONED criminal. Not only a drug user but a drug DEALER. His family is breeding them…..he is the leader of a ring of thieves and users. He is only going to accept this sentence so that he doesn’t have to do any jail time. Nothing will change. his rap sheet goes back to the 90’s…..how do you fix that??

I hope the corner pocket never opens again. He is trash, his family is trash and if you think his mother is innocent in all this she is not, she enables all of the activities he in engaged in. he will be out selling again with in 6 months, perpetuating the heroin epidemic.

I am disappointed in the system with this case, West Seattle deserves better.

Sorry, comment time is over.