Crime & Courts

A Juneau man was arrested after allegedly crashing his truck into another vehicle and a residence at 9.5 mile Glacier Highway.

The incident happened Sunday morning about 2 o’clock. The truck was spotted traveling at a high rate of speed before crashing.

Capital City Fire & Rescue’s Noah Jenkins said the Cadillac pick-up crashed into a Jeep Cherokee, pushing it into the side of a garage of the townhouse near Radcliffe Road. The two residents inside were sleeping and uninjured. But Jenkins says both vehicles were totaled and the residence sustained what he called ‘significant structural damage.’

Juneau Police Sargent Dominic Branson says officers had to chase the alleged driver who apparently fled on foot. They later found him at a nearby residence. Travis Lies, 22, was charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to give notice of an accident, and reckless endangerment.

He was taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center to await arraignment.

Also over the weekend, Juneau police reported arresting a Washington state man for second time. This time it was on a warrant for escaping from community custody.

Christopher Craig Johnson, 29, was arrested in a parking lot on Trout Street on Saturday night. Juneau police says he’s listed as a violent offender and was recently jailed for drug possession with intent to deliver. He was also taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center and held on bail as a fugitive from justice.

Three years ago, Juneau police say they arrested Johnson on a Washington state warrant for robbery and escape charges. Lieutenant Kris Sell says that earlier arrest happened when Johnson surrendered after a 6-hour standoff.

A notable Alaska jurist and Juneau attorney is a step closer to being recognized by Congress.

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday passed out a measure that would name the courtroom in the downtown Juneau federal building after Judge Robert Boochever.

The measure now goes to the full U.S. House for a vote.

Congressman Don Young, who sponsored the resolution, said in a prepared statement that “Judge Boochever’s commitment to Alaska was second to none.”

A companion piece of legislation is also being sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich.

Robert Boochever started as an assistant U.S. attorney in Juneau in 1946. He later entered private practice and was appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court, eventually becoming the fourth Chief Justice of the state’s highest court.

Justice Boochever became Judge Boochever in 1980 when he was picked to be the first Alaskan to serve on the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He served for 30 years.

The Juneau courtroom, along with courtrooms in Fairbanks and Ketchikan, were included in a recent list of courtrooms nationwide that the federal government was considering shutting down because of cost, usage, and location.

Ryan Hamley, 27, was sentenced in Juneau Superior Court on Thursday for the December 29th incident at the 4400 block of Delta Drive.

Three women, another man, and a 3-year old child were reportedly in the residence when it happened. The child and two of the women left the apartment before police arrived.

The Juneau Police Department’s response included the dispatch of SWAT and crisis negotiation team for a potential hostage situation. A 48-year old woman remaining in the apartment talked with officers and was able to locate the gun. Police say Hamley was intoxicated during the shooting and he was apparently asleep just before he was arrested. He was taken into custody about ten hours after the initial shooting report. The 48-year old woman and a 26-year old man both told officers that they were not being held against their will.

District Attorney Dave Brower said during Thursday’s sentencing hearing that the round went into the wall and it was lucky no one was hurt. At one point, when Brower suggested that it was a failed suicide attempt, Hamley shouted “That’s not true!”

Then, when he had a chance to make his own comments at length, Hamley lashed out at others that he said didn’t know him or what really happened. At one point, he turned to a newspaper reporter sitting in the front row of the gallery and made an obscene one-fingered hand gesture at her. That prompted an admonishment from the judge and the judicial services officers who had escorted Hamley from Lemon Creek Correctional Center.

Hamley essentially told a story of being homeless and out of work with no money or food. He said at one point: “Oh, I’m a nut. I thank the Lord everyday that he busted me. I lost my mind and paid the price for it. “ Hamley agreed his actions were not correct, positive or justifiable, but he also said it was a relief to be in Lemon Creek.

Hamley forfeits the handgun used in the shooting.

Hamley was sentenced to three years in prison with two years suspended for assault. He was also sentenced to two years with one year suspended for weapons misconduct. He’ll also be on probation for three years after he gets out of prison.

A Juneau dental assistant who falsified narcotic prescriptions for her addicted boyfriend has been sentenced to a year in prison.

Donya Owens, 29, was originally indicted on twenty-two counts of felony misconduct involving a controlled substance. As part of a plea and sentence agreement with prosecutors, Owens changed her plea on three of the charges. Her composite sentence includes four-years in prison with three-years suspended.

Robert Biddinger, 44, was also indicted on twenty-two counts. He was picked up by Unalaska Police in January. Owens was arrested by troopers at the Ketchikan ferry terminal in February.

Owens would call in prescriptions on behalf of a dentist and say that Biddinger would pick them up. Prosecutors say the Foodland A & P pharmacist, who also works at Juneau Drug, got suspicious with the prescriptions placed by cell phone. Biddinger picked up twenty vicodin at Safeway last August and another twenty at Foodland in September. According to prosecutors, both Owens and Biddinger said they knew they “messed up” or “screwed up”. The pills were for personal use only, not resale. Biddinger apparently suffered from a pair of painful shoulder injuries.

Owens’ attorney Kirsten Swanson says her client is genuinely remorseful, has lost her job and a position of trust. Owens could even lose her two children in a custody fight that arose out of her arrest.

For her part, Owens said “my apologies to everyone involved. My children are suffering the most. I’m really sorry.”

Sentencing for Biddinger, who also changed his plea on two of the charges, has been delayed until at least next week.

It’s unclear which dental practice Owens worked at. Among the witnesses who appeared before a Juneau grand jury was an Anchorage dentist who specializes in endodontics. At least four pharmacists who work at separate grocery stores in Juneau also testified.

A pre-trial proceeding for a former police officer accused of firing on his former colleagues has been postponed. But a jury trial could still start on December 3rd as scheduled.

Troy Wilson will return to court on July 7th for an omnibus hearing. That’s a hearing in which pending motions, and evidence or constitutional issues are usually resolved before a criminal case goes to trial.

Wilson appeared in Juneau Superior Court on Thursday wearing orange prison garb. His attorney Julie Willoughby said there’s “still an enormous amount of discovery that’s being collected” – meaning that both sides have not been able to thoroughly review all of the evidence yet.

The former Juneau Police Department lieutenant was arrested after an alleged stand-off with officers at his home on Black Wolf Way starting on the evening of April 7th. He allegedly fired 75 rounds at his former colleagues. No one was reported hurt.

Wilson faces six counts of attempted murder, six counts of weapons misconduct, six counts of assault, two counts of criminal mischief, and two counts of misdemeanor weapons misconduct.

Wilson remains held in custody pending posting of $1,000,000 bail.

A jury trial is now set for September 24th in the case of last summer’s fatal accident out the road. Ryan West is being charged in connection with the death of Gabriel Carte. West and Carte were both in a truck that went into a ditch and rolled several times at Mile 35 Glacier Highway in June 2011. West sustained minor injuries. Carte died when he was ejected from the vehicle. Police believe alcohol and speed were factors in the crash.

Scheduling the West trial was complicated by other high profile cases also headed for trial this fall.

One includes a Juneau man accused of four counts of sexual abuse of a child. All four charges stem from Joshua David Burger as a parent or guardian allegedly abusing a child in his care. A September 4th trial date was set in the case.

Also tentatively planned for sometime this fall is the case of John Marvin who accused of shooting Hoonah police officers Tony Wallace and Matt Tokuoka in August 2010. Marvin was declared not competent to stand trial in January. Another competency hearing is planned for next week.

Former Juneau Police Lieutenant Troy Wilson is also scheduled to stand trial for an alleged shooting and standoff at his home in April. He’s being charged for allegedly firing on his former colleagues. The trial is expected to start December 3rd and last two weeks.