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Washington criminal charge

Transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution in Washington

Current through 2026 Washington legislative session

Transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution is a criminal offense under Washington law, defined by RCW 9.08.072. Its classification is not fixed: Washington assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.

Defined by RCW 9.08.072.

What is the penalty for transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution in Washington?

Penalties for Transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 364 days (First conviction — Applies to a first conviction under this section for transferring a stolen pet animal to a research institution.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(2)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.020 unless the offense fixes its own penalty)discretionaryRCW 9A.20.021
Fineup to $5,000 (First conviction — Applies to a first conviction under this section for transferring a stolen pet animal to a research institution.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)))discretionaryRCW 9A.20.021
Jail / prisonup to 5 years (Second or subsequent conviction — Applies to a second or subsequent conviction under this section for transferring a stolen pet animal to a research institution.; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score)discretionaryRCW 9A.20.021
Fineup to $10,000 (Second or subsequent conviction — Applies to a second or subsequent conviction under this section for transferring a stolen pet animal to a research institution.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute)discretionaryRCW 9A.20.021

Applies to current.

How is transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution classified in Washington?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
First convictionGross MisdemeanorApplies to a first conviction under this section for transferring a stolen pet animal to a research institution.RCW 9.08.072(2)
Second or subsequent convictionClass C FelonyApplies to a second or subsequent conviction under this section for transferring a stolen pet animal to a research institution.RCW 9.08.072(3)

Common questions about transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution in Washington

Is transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?

It depends on the circumstances: transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution ranges from a Gross Misdemeanor to a Class C Felony in Washington under RCW 9.08.072.

First conviction: Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9.08.072(2)) · Second or subsequent conviction: Class C Felony (RCW 9.08.072(3))

What are the penalties for transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution in Washington?

Penalties for transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution in Washington depend on how it is classified — from a Gross Misdemeanor up to a Class C Felony — with the ranges set by RCW 9A.20.021; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which Washington statute covers transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution?

Transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution is governed by RCW 9.08.072 (Transferring stolen pet animal to a research institution—Penalty).

Legal terms used in this law

This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.