Superior Court March 6: The Mental Health Element and Cognitive Decline

Court news by Angela Downs 

JEFFERSON COUNTY, WA — In Superior Court on March 6, proceedings went smoothly, aside from occasional technological difficulties over zoom. Several cases involved mental health concerns, which the Court takes under discretion when evaluating sentencing. 

James Stanhope’s review hearing on March 6 was for a charge of felony harassment for threats to kill. On November 22, 2025, Stanhope called the police several times, saying he was upset with Lloyd McCuistion and if the police didn’t come help, he was concerned he would harm McCuistion. Stanhope did not have any weapons at the time of the threat. 

McCuistion told law enforcement officer Eric Morris that he believed Stanhope would follow through with the threat. Stanhope was arrested by Officer Halabi and evaluated at Jefferson General Hospital and cleared for incarceration prior to being transported and booked into the Jefferson County Correctional Facility. 

Judge Brandon Mack approved that Stanhope be released from custody to join the Respite Center in Port Angeles. The program can help him get to his court hearings and follow through with his treatment recommendations. “I wouldn’t be by myself in case something happens, and they can help me with doctor's appointments,” Stanhope said. “I need their help.”

Nicole Janzen-Duncan, who was charged with custodial interference in the first degree, was present for her change of plea and sentencing hearing. This is the second time she has stood trial for those charges. She was first charged and convicted with custodial interference in the first degree in 2019 for violating a court ordered parenting plan by taking her two children to Canada, where she has dual citizenship. Janzen-Duncan was given temporary custody of her children on 8/5/22, and on 8/19/22, she took both her children across the border to Canada.

On March 6, Janzen-Duncan plead guilty with the special condition of chemical dependency evaluation. The State is asking for DNA testing because they didn’t ask for it in Janzen-Duncan’s last case, but are not asking for community custody, where the Department of Corrections supervises her re-entry, though they anticipate she will need alternative assistance in the future. The Court adopted the recommended sentencing of one year with credit for time served in Kitsap county.

In a separate case, Jane Franklin was not present at the hearing where a motion to forfeit bail was explored. She is charged with third degree assault, two counts of third degree theft,  malicious mischief in the third degree and resisting arrest. On February 13, she failed to appear at her hearing after posting her $5,000 bail. The state asked to forfeit the posted bail. Attorney Lillian Powers requested the court deny the forfeiture because Franklin is experiencing cognitive decline and assumes the money will be available for her retirement. Powers asked for more time to secure Franklin’s appearance. Judge Mack reserved a ruling, which delays a ruling after hearing arguments so as to take more time to review. In this case, the vague language of Statute 1019090, which is meant to inform and guide decisions on bail forfeiture, needed more review.

Updates:    

Steve Redhead was charged in March 2025 for residential burglary and on two counts of malicious mischief in the second degree for forced entry into Fire Station 41, causing several thousand dollars of damage to windows in the engine bay. On March 6, Redhead restated his intention to retain a new attorney and did not accept a guilty plea deal. He has a pretrial on May 22 and a trial on June 1.

Robert Cuevas was charged with assault in the second degree with a firearm enhancement, malicious mischief in the second degree, unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree, and unlawful possession of a short-barreled shotgun. He entered a not guilty plea and is being held in custody. On March 6, Cuevas had a Motion Hearing to amend information. However the prosecution did not have the motions with them and they will meet before the Jury Selection on Monday March 30. They will select 14 jurors.