Assessor Noble expected to plead guilty in I-5 crash

King County Assessor Scott Noble has apparently worked out an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to charges stemming from a wrong-way car crash in January that injured two women.

A routine hearing before King County Superior Court Judge Sharon Armstrong set for today has been canceled at the request of Noble and prosecutors, and a hearing for Noble to change his plea has been set for May 14. He pleaded not guilty last month to two counts of felony vehicular assault.

The state Attorney General's Office, which is handling the prosecution of Noble, declined to discuss whether a plea agreement had been worked out.

Noble's attorney, John W. Wolfe, confirmed Wednesday he is talking with prosecutors about a possible plea but declined to discuss details.

If convicted of a felony, Noble would lose his right to vote and run for office.

Deputy Assessor Rich Medved said he began researching the succession process after Noble advised him Wednesday that a plea hearing had been scheduled.

"Certainly, one of the outcomes could be that he would be forced to resign. As in any aspect of life, I need to be prepared in case that happens," Medved said.

Because he anticipates questions from citizens about succession, Medved said he has asked the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for information on the succession process. Noble has named Medved to fill in for him if he is unable to carry out his duties.

If Noble were to leave office, Medved would serve until the Metropolitan King County Council named an interim assessor, who would serve until a replacement was elected in November to complete the term, which runs through 2011.

Noble, 58, was charged last month in connection with the wrong-way collision Jan. 18 on Interstate 5 in Federal Way. Witnesses said Noble pulled his SUV to the side of I-5 and then made a U-turn into oncoming traffic, forcing some vehicles to swerve to avoid his SUV.

His SUV collided with a Jeep Liberty carrying two women, who were treated at Harborview Medical Center for broken bones. Noble was hospitalized with internal injuries at Harborview, where he underwent surgery, according to the State Patrol.

Blood drawn from Noble showed an alcohol level of 0.22 percent, well above the legal limit of 0.08, the State Patrol said.

Noble reportedly told a state trooper at the scene, "I don't know how much I had to drink; I had too much."

In a March 24 interview with KING-TV, Noble apologized for the accident and said he had been a recovering alcoholic for 20 years. Noble, a Democrat, denied that his alcoholism had affected his performance in the office he has held since 1992. He was elected to a fifth four-year term in 2007.

The King County Prosecutor's Office asked the Attorney General's Office to take over the case to avoid any conflict of interest. The prosecuting attorney represents the assessor in civil matters.

If Noble pleads guilty as charged, he would face a sentence under state guidelines of at least a year in prison.

Seattle Times staff reporter Mike Carter contributed to this report.

Ian Ith: 206-464-2109 or iith@seattletimes.com.