Lake Forest Park judge reduces fines, dismisses one infraction after mailing error in afternoon mitigation calendar

Judge Grant presided over Lake Forest Park Municipal Court’s remote afternoon infraction mitigation calendar on Feb. 25, 2026, and issued a series of reductions, a deferred finding, a payment plan and one dismissal after a confirmed mailing/addressing error.

The judge opened the calendar by explaining that mitigation hearings assume the defendant admits the violation but can describe circumstances and financial hardship to seek a lower penalty; she also noted that photo-enforced tickets cannot receive a deferred finding.

In individual matters, Judge Grant reduced a photo-enforced speeding citation for Carrie Ackerley (case 250461772) to $50, payable by March 20, after Ackerley said she is on a fixed income. "I will reduce this to $50 for you," the judge said.

Three matters for Scott Calantyne (250439091, 250450635, 250464487) involving school/walk‑zone speeding were each reduced to $75; the judge set the same March 20 deadline for payment. Calantyne told the court he was new to the area and said he did not realize the speed limit changed when lights flash in an active school zone.

Benjamin Blue (250479956) disputed whether the posted limit applied and noted the ticket photo did not show flashing lights; Judge Grant confirmed the regular posted speed for the area is 25 mph and reduced the mitigation amount to $75.

Janelle Eddy (250467852) was reduced to $50 after describing a navigation error and saying she is on a fixed income; the court will send an updated invoice.

On a moving-vehicle citation, Lisa Johnson (580954319) accepted a deferred finding: a six‑month continuance requiring a $175 payment and maintenance of a clean driving record; if those conditions are met, the court will dismiss the charge. The judge told Johnson the deferred finding was effective immediately and that the $175 is due within 30 days.

Hayden Locke (250460931 and two prior collection matters) told the court he had been unemployed and now has income. Judge Grant pulled two cases out of collection, reduced those collection amounts to $100 each and the current matter to $100 — a total of $300 — and approved a $50‑per‑month payment plan with the first payment due March 20.

In a matter the defendant raised as a service‑of‑process concern, Mikaela Zbob (250059774) told the court she did not receive mailed notice of a Feb. 10, 2025 citation because the mailed notice went to a residential address that does not accept mail; her vehicle registration on the Department of Licensing site showed a different mailing address. After reviewing the record and the clerk's prior emails, Judge Grant dismissed the infraction for the mailing/address confusion.

Judge Grant also addressed Chan (Johanna) Cole (250462168), who said English is not her first language and asked the court to proceed slowly; after confirming connection and comprehension, the judge dismissed that photo ticket as a warning.

Each mitigation reduction or deferred finding was recorded on the calendar and the court instructed defendants about payment options (online, mail, or in person) and payment deadlines. Where payment plans were allowed, the judge indicated installment schedules and the clerk will send formal notices or invoices.

The calendar concluded after the judge processed the listed matters; several reductions were explicitly tied to defendants' financial hardship or demonstrated confusion about signage or mailing, and one case was dismissed because of a court mailing error.