A 38-year-old man found guilty of multiple felonies and misdemeanors after a contentious trial during which he represented himself and argued that he was the victim of a cop conspiracy refused to come to court Thursday for his sentencing.
Laron Carlton Graham, whose sentencing had been delayed several times already, declined to appear in Juneau Superior Court for his sentencing hearing, reportedly in part because his defense attorney had filed a motion for a new trial. He also refused to be transported to an attorney room to appear telephonically.
Graham’s sentencing was rescheduled for April 18 and Judge Philip Pallenberg indicated he would issue a written direction for him to appear on that date.
A Juneau jury in July found Graham guilty of felony vehicle theft, robbery, assault and witness tampering. He was also found guilty of nine misdemeanors for unlawfully contacting someone against court orders, violating a domestic violence protective order and for trespassing at the Gruening Park apartment where, on March 17, he threatened to throw his then-girlfriend out of a window while she was holding her 1-year-old child.
The jury did not convict him of one misdemeanor assault charge for allegedly slapping the victim in the face.
Nicholas Polasky, with the state Office of Public Advocacy, told Pallenberg on Thursday that Graham might have refused to come to court because he believed the hearing was just for the purpose of rescheduling the sentencing. Pallenberg noted Graham doesn’t get to make those decisions and stopped short of ordering him to be present.
• Contact reporter Liz Kellar at 523-2246 or at liz.kellar@juneauempire.com
