Former Mayor Mitchusson released on house arrest

Former Poulsbo Mayor Richard A. 'Mitch' Mitchusson was released Thursday afternoon from Kitsap County jail, where he has been held since March 25 under criminal charges.

Mitchusson, 70, was released on his promise to appear when called to court. He may only leave his home for case proceedings or medical appointments. He will wear an ankle monitor, his attorney, Matt Clucas, said.

Charges against Mitchusson include two felony counts of indecent liberty, two counts of sexually motivated assault, one count of stalking and one of second-degree burglary with second-degree rape attached. He was arrested at a traffic stop in downtown Poulsbo after allegations of inappropriate and unwanted contact surfaced from several area women.

In April, 13 victims were identified and detectives were sorting through several potential others, prosecutors said.

Mitchusson was previously held in lieu of $200,000 bail. He has been ordered to undergo mental health evaluations to determine if he has Pick's Disease, a dementia associated with the shrinking of the frontal and temporal anterior lobes of the brain. Symptoms often result in behavioral problems such as impulsivity, inappropriate social behavior, lack of social tact and increased interest in sex, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Clucas said Mitchusson was, by judge's ruling, to receive a 14-day evaluation at Western State Hospital. To date, hospital representatives have administered Mitchusson two hours of evaluation. Clucas expects evaluations to last through much of July.

Mitchusson was under several doctors' care before entering jail due to various serious health conditions. His move to house arrest was meant to make his access to that care easier.

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