Statute of Limitations for Class C / 3rd Degree Felony in Washington

Overview

In Washington, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets a deadline for the state to file criminal charges (or otherwise initiate prosecution, depending on the case). For a Class C / 3rd Degree felony, the starting point is the general/default limitations period unless a specific exception applies.

For Washington, the general SOL period for many felony offenses is 5 years under RCW 9A.04.080. No claim-type-specific subclass rule for “Class C / 3rd Degree felony” was identified beyond that general framework, so the default rule controls for purposes of this reference page.

Limitation period

Default SOL for a Class C / 3rd Degree felony (Washington)

• General SOL period: 5 years
• General statute: RCW 9A.04.080

Because no additional “Class C / 3rd Degree felony” sub-rule was found, you should treat the SOL as the general 5-year limit for this category unless an exception/tolling provision changes the timeline.

How the SOL clock is typically framed

In practice, SOL analysis usually turns on two dates:

1. Date of the alleged offense (or the latest date conduct occurred, where relevant)
2. Date prosecution is initiated (often tied to filing/commencement mechanics under Washington criminal procedure)

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator is designed to help you model these timelines quickly and consistently for Washington matters.

What changes the output (even with the same statute)?

Even when the baseline is “5 years,” the calculator can reflect changes if you indicate tolling-related circumstances or key exception flags. For example:

• A clock that starts later due to an applicable accrual rule
• A clock that stops or is extended due to tolling
• A clock that reaches beyond 5 years if an exception makes the limitations period longer

If your case involves a factor like concealment, identity issues, certain victim circumstances, or other statutory tolling, the effective deadline may move.

Key exceptions

Washington’s criminal SOL scheme includes doctrines that can extend, suspend, or otherwise affect the limitations period. Since this page is centered on the general “Class C / 3rd Degree felony” baseline, think of exceptions as inputs that change the calculation.

Here are the types of exceptions/tolling issues you should check when you calculate deadlines:

• Tolling (pauses/halts the SOL clock): Some circumstances can pause the running of the SOL. These can turn a “5-year from offense date” analysis into a later deadline.
• Accrual/trigger variations: In certain situations, the relevant starting point for the SOL can differ from the date of the alleged act.
• Other statutory SOL provisions: Washington’s SOL rules aren’t one-size-fits-all for every offense scenario. Even if the general rule is 5 years, another Washington SOL subsection may apply in specific factual contexts.

Practical checklist for exception review

Before you run any calculation, gather these items:

If you’re missing one date, the calculator can still show a working deadline range (based on what you enter), but the precision will improve once you have the filing/prosecution-start date.

Statute citation

• RCW 9A.04.080 — General statute of limitations (baseline period used for many felony prosecutions in Washington)

This reference page uses RCW 9A.04.080 as the governing general/default rule for the 5-year limitations period applied to a Class C / 3rd Degree felony, because no claim-type-specific sub-rule for that category was identified beyond the general framework.

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator can convert the Washington RCW 9A.04.080 default into a concrete deadline once you provide the relevant dates and any applicable exception/tolling parameters supported by the tool.

Primary CTA:

• Use the calculator

Inputs to expect (what you should enter)

When you open the calculator, you’ll typically be asked for:

• Offense date (or latest date in a relevant range)
• Jurisdiction: Washington (US-WA)
• Case type / offense classification (select the closest match to “Class C / 3rd Degree felony”)
• Any exception/tolling flags (if the tool prompts for them)

How outputs change as inputs change

Consider this scenario logic:

• If you enter Offense Date = January 15, 2020 and use the general rule, a 5-year SOL would push the baseline deadline to January 15, 2025 (subject to how the calculator defines commencement and any statutory timing rules it applies).
• If you then indicate a tolling-related circumstance (where supported), the computed deadline may move later because the clock is paused/suspended or extended by law.

Quick example (illustrative math)

If the tool uses a straightforward “add 5 years” model for the default:

• Offense date: 03/01/2020
• Default SOL: 5 years
• Baseline deadline: 03/01/2025
• Result: If prosecution is filed after 03/01/2025, the default rule would suggest it’s outside the limitations period—unless an exception/tolling input adjusts the timeline.

Interpreting results responsibly

Once DocketMath produces a deadline:

• Use it as a timeline check, not a substitute for a statute subsection review tied to the specific charge.
• Cross-check the “offense date” with the charging document.
• Verify that the “filed/prosecution start date” aligns with how the tool defines commencement.

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Washington and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• RCW 4.16.080

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — Tool comparison
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — How-to guide
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — Tool comparison