Pierce County child-luring suspect found incompetent to stand trial

A man accused of trying to lure children outside a Lakewood apartment complex to his home has been found incompetent to stand trial.

Patrick David Huber, 62, was charged with two counts each of first-degree attempted child molestation and luring in 2015.

Pierce County prosecutors said he approached two young children in January that year, outside the Lakewood apartment complex where he lived, and tried to get them to come to his home. Their mother called 911.

He also allegedly approached a boy outside Woodbrook Middle School, who ran away.

Huber was arrested, and the court sent him to Western State Hospital to have his mental competency for trial evaluated.

Doctors there diagnosed and treated him for chronic schizophrenia and ultimately said they didn’t think he’d be competent for trial anytime soon.

That led Superior Court Judge Garold Johnson to dismiss the charges without prejudice Jan. 16, which gives prosecutors the option to refile them later on.

Meanwhile, Johnson’s order made arrangements for Huber to be evaluated for a civil commitment to state custody.

This story was originally published January 26, 2018 at 1:30 PM with the headline "Pierce County child-luring suspect found incompetent to stand trial."