Violent felon remains in custody pending further proceedings

MOUNT VERNON — The Washington Attorney General’s Office has filed a petition in Skagit County Superior Court seeking to civilly commit a sex offender and prevent his release into the community.

John Bettys, 40, has been convicted of three sexually violent offenses: one count of indecent liberties against a child under age 14 in 1989, and two counts of first-degree rape of a child in 1993. He was also convicted of child molestation third degree in 2013.

Statement of Attorney General Bob Ferguson concerning Arlene’s Flowers same-sex marriage discrimination case

OLYMPIA — In light of yesterday’s Benton County Superior Court ruling that a Richland florist violated Washington’s Consumer Protection Act by refusing to serve a same-sex couple seeking to buy wedding flowers in 2013, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson today released the following statement:

OLYMPIA — A Benton County Superior Court ruling today held that a Richland florist violated Washington’s Consumer Protection Act by refusing to serve a same-sex couple seeking to buy wedding flowers in 2013.

In April 2013, the Attorney General’s Office filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Arlene’s Flowers and its owner and operator, Barronelle Stutzman, for refusing to provide flowers to customer Robert Ingersoll for his wedding to his husband, Curt Freed.     

Attorney General’s Office presented arguments to defend I-502, uphold will of the voters

KELSO — A fourth superior court judge today agreed with an opinion issued by the Attorney General’s Office earlier this year, concluding that nothing in Initiative 502 overrides local governments’ authority to regulate or ban marijuana businesses. This allows I-502 to continue to be implemented. Every court to consider this issue has now agreed with the Attorney General’s opinion.

Don’t be deceived by a “notario” or “notario público” who target immigrants and their families

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson, state Representative Luis Moscoso, D-1st Legislative District, and state Senator-elect Pramila Jayapal, D-37th Legislative District, today issued a consumer alert to Washingtonians about possible scams targeting immigrants and their families.

Satellite radio company accused of misleading advertising, billing

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson, along with the attorneys general of 44 states and the District of Columbia, announced today that Sirius XM Radio Inc. of New York has agreed to provide money back to eligible consumers and pay $3.8 million to the states to resolve claims that the satellite radio company engaged in misleading advertising and billing practices.