Grand jury indicts woman in assault case

A Juneau grand jury indicted a woman tied to a downtown assault earlier this month.

Natalia L. Sanders, 33, faces a third-degree felony assault charge after reportedly leaving a second woman’s face red and swollen on April 17 during a downtown fight, according to a police complaint. Alcohol is believed to have been involved.

Sanders’ case was originally headed to trial in Juneau’s District Court as a misdemeanor charge before the indictment. She is now scheduled to appear before Judge Louis Menendez in Superior Court, although an arraignment date was not set by the close of business Friday.

In the last 10 years, Sanders has pleaded guilty to several misdemeanor offenses such as public fighting, disorderly conduct, shoplifting and violating the conditions of her release.

If convicted, Sanders faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000.

Friday’s grand jury also indicted Rodney Irvin Hunter Willis, 30, for failing to appear on a felony charge. Willis is scheduled to be arraigned before Judge Philip Pallenberg on Thursday for the class C felony offense. According to online court documents, Willis is currently facing charges in District Court for a misdemeanor disorderly conduct offense and felony charges in Superior Court for rioting and criminal mischief.

• Contact reporter Paula Ann Solis at 523-2272 or paula.solis@juneauempire.com.

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