Man who threatened ferry bombing found incompetent for trial
September 26th, 2008 - 6:39am
(Port Angeles) -- A judge has determined that a transient man, who allegedly told the owner of the Victoria Express that he had placed a bomb aboard the ferry last May, is currently
not competent to stand trial.
51-year old Howard Joel Larson, originally charged under an alias of Steven Stan Hanseth, is accused of a Threat to Bomb or Injure Property, a Class B felony with a maximum
penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a 20-thousand dollar fine.
At a hearing yesterday, Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brooke Taylor found that Larson currently lacks the capacity to understand the nature of the court proceedings against
him or to assist in his own defense as a result of mental disease or defect.
However, the Court does not presently find that the defendant is unlikely to regain competency
with treatment.
Judge Taylor ordered the defendant to undergo treatment for the restoration of competency, as directed by state law.
The Court ordered Larson to be returned to Western State Hospital as soon as possible by County Corrections officials.
Charging documents say Port Angeles Police were called to the Landing on the night of May 24th, after Victoria Express owner Jack Harmon reported a suspicious man had stated that he
had placed a bomb aboard his boat.
Officers contacted the suspect at the bus stop in the 200 block of East First Street.
Documents say when asked about the threat, Larson began ranting about dead bodies and murders aboard the Victoria Express.
He was taken into police custody.
Papers say Harmon was called to the Victoria Express office by his wife about a man causing a problem.
Harmon told police that whatever Larson had said in the office had alarmed people, who were seen walking briskly from the area when he arrived.
A review hearing for Larson is scheduled for January 9th.
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