(1) A
person charged with desertion or absence without leave in time of
war, or with aiding the enemy or with mutiny may be tried and
punished at any time without limitation.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person
charged with desertion in time of peace or with the offense
punishable under RCW 38.38.784 is not liable to be tried by
court-martial if the offense was committed more than three years
before the receipt of sworn charges and specifications by an
officer exercising summary court-martial jurisdiction over the
command.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person
charged with any offense is not liable to be tried by
court-martial or punished under RCW 38.38.132 if the offense was
committed more than two years before the receipt of sworn charges
and specifications by an officer exercising summary court-martial
jurisdiction over the command or before the imposition of
punishment under RCW 38.38.132.
(4) Periods in which the accused was absent from territory
in which the state has the authority to apprehend the accused, or
in the custody of civil authorities, or in the hands of the
enemy, shall be excluded in computing the period of limitation
prescribed in this section.
(5) If charges or specifications are dismissed as defective
or insufficient for any cause and the period prescribed by the
applicable statute of limitations:
(a) Has expired; or
(b) Will expire within one hundred eighty days after the
date of dismissal of the charges and specifications[,]
[then] trial and punishment under new charges and specifications
are not barred by the statute of limitations if the conditions
specified in subsection (6) of this section are met.
(6) The conditions referred to in subsection (5) of this
section are that the new charges and specifications must:
(a) Be received by an officer exercising summary
court-martial jurisdiction over the command within one hundred
eighty days after the dismissal of the charges or specifications;
and
(b) Allege the same acts or omissions that were alleged in
the dismissed charges or specifications or allege acts or
omissions that were included in the dismissed charges or
specifications.
[2009 c 378 § 19; 1989 c 48 § 42; 1963 c 220 § 45.]