Kent Municipal Court. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent

Kent Municipal Court. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent

Kent man accused in Meridian Elementary incident to get new evaluation

Kent Municipal Court judge grants defense attorney’s request; next hearing Dec. 22

A Kent Municipal Court judge granted a defense attorney’s request for a new competency evaluation for a man facing two charges for an incident at Meridian Elementary School.

Noah W. Peterson, 26, had a competency hearing Thursday, Dec. 8 in front of Judge Michael Frans, but that hearing has been continued to Dec. 22 to allow time for the new evaluation to be conducted, according to an email from Kent City Attorney Tammy White.

“He (Peterson) was heard by Judge Frans,” White said. “During that hearing his defense attorney indicated that they still had competency concerns and requested a new competency evaluation. Judge Frans granted the defense’s request and ordered a new competency evaluation.”

Peterson remained in custody at the city jail.

“Mr. Peterson’s bail remains as non-bailable to ensure he remains in custody until after the new evaluation is conducted,” White said.

Peterson faces charges for allegedly intimidating a school employee and harassment for a Nov. 14 incident near Meridian Elementary, 25621 140th Ave. SE, on the East Hill, according to court documents. The incident resulted in a school lockdown for one day and closure for four days. Peterson also reportedly pointed a gun at his brother Nov. 14 inside the home he lives in next to school property.

Prior to the hearing, Peterson had been in the custody of King County Designated Crisis Responders, held under the Involuntary Treatment Act. King County released Peterson Dec. 7 and he was transported back to Kent’s city jail.

Peterson had two previous Kent Municipal Court hearings (Dec. 1 and Dec. 6) to address competency continued because he remained under county custody. His public defender raised competency at an initial hearing about the charges.

After a competency hearing, Peterson could be kept in custody for treatment or on the charges. He also could be released depending on the judge’s ruling.

If a court (judge) believes a mental health issue may prevent a person from aiding in their defense, the court puts the criminal case on hold (per RCW 10.77) while an evaluation is completed to determine that individual’s legal competence to proceed with the criminal court case, according to the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) website.

If the individual is found not competent, DSHS is required to provide them with competency restoration services in a timely fashion, after which point the criminal case may proceed, according to DSHS. The majority of competency restoration services are provided in the forensic units of Western State Hospital in Lakewood in Pierce County.

DSHS, however, has approximately 850 mentally ill defendants across the state that are waiting for court-ordered mental health treatment at state psychiatric facilities, according to a Nov. 29 report on king5.com. King County has more than a record-number of 100 mentally ill defendants waiting in the county jail for a bed at Western State Hospital, according to the report.

The criminal case is in Kent Municipal Court because the charges are misdemeanors. King County Superior Court handles felony cases.

Kent Police arrested Peterson Nov. 16 and booked him into the city jail before he was transported less than 24 hours later to a treatment center for psychiatric care and evaluation, Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla said in an email.

An estimated 150 people attended a town hall meeting Nov. 22 about the Meridian Elementary incident. Padilla, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph and Kent School District Superintendent Israel Vela led a nearly 90-minute meeting. Meridian Elementary parents and teachers raised concerns about what will happen next, especially if Peterson is released from custody.

Judge Frans background

Voters elected Frans to a four-year term in 2021 to the Kent Municipal Court when he ran unopposed. He was appointed by Mayor Dana Ralph as court commissioner in 2018 prior to becoming judge on Jan. 1, 2019, to fill out the remaining three-year term of Karli Jorgensen, who retired.

Frans, a lifelong resident of South King County, worked as a criminal defense lawyer for more than 18 years.

“The position of judge affords me the opportunity to make a real difference every day, and that is what is most exciting for me,” Frans said when appointed by Ralph, according to the Kent Reporter. “It is my goal to ensure that every person appearing before the court is treated fairly and with respect.”


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

File photo
Man sentenced in Federal Way rock throwing death

Judi Kilma retrieved a fist-sized rock after a man punctured one of the tires on Kilma’s bicycle.

t
Kent Police Blotter: March 11-25

Incidents include commercial burglary, DUI arrest

Flowers for slain trooper Chris Gadd begin to collect outside Washington State Patrol District 7 Headquarters on Saturday, March 2 in Marysville. (Ryan Berry / Sound Publishing)
Lynnwood man pleads not guilty in crash that killed WSP trooper

Raul Benitez Santana arraigned Tuesday on vehicular homicide charge in Trooper Chris Gadd’s death.

Captain Ron Mead and Corporal Alexis Robinson embrace during a memorial for Washington State Patrol trooper Chris Gadd on Tuesday, March 12 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / Sound Publishing)
Man was reportedly driving 112 mph before crashing into Trooper Gadd

Charging documents reveal details of March 2 crash that killed Kentlake High graduate

t
Kent apartment shooting injures man, woman on East Hill

Incident began Sunday, March 24 as domestic dispute; woman’s brother gets involved and shots are fired

Chase Wilcoxson, father to Matilda, 13, and Eloise,12, places a family photo at the roadside memorial dedicated to his daughters, Buster Brown, 12, and Andrea Hudson, 38. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Families forgive Kent suspect involved in fatal crash near Renton

High-speed collision March 19 killed four; families of victims call to make the roads safer

t
Kent mayor plans to keep fighting for sales tax to hire more police

State of the City address also touches on new restaurants, roundabouts and walking paths

t
Crews to begin work on $13.8 million final phase of 76th Avenue upgrade

Street to be raised above Mill Creek floodplain, paved with concrete; bridges to replace culverts

t
Smoke alarms help Kent family of five escape house fire

Firefighters rescue one male from roof in March 19 fire on East Hill

File photo
Victims identified in ‘mass casualty’ collision that killed four near Renton | Update

Detectives say the collision was caused by an 18-year-old driver.

t
Semi-truck rollover blocks Green River Bridge in Auburn

Traffic had to be diverted from State Route 18; heavy impact on Kent streets

t
Seattle church’s donation to cover asylum seekers bill at Kent hotel

Group to remain at Kent Quality Inn for two more weeks