Charles Cotten Jr., manager of the Bergmann Hotel, takes the Juneau Empire on a tour of the facility on Friday, March 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Charles Cotten Jr., manager of the Bergmann Hotel, takes the Juneau Empire on a tour of the facility on Friday, March 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Judge sentences father and son for meth distribution charges

Former Bergmann manager Charles Cotten set to serve 10 years

A father and son were sentenced Thursday in federal court for their roles in distributing methamphetamine in Juneau, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alaska.

Charles Edward Cotten, 53, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 25 years of supervised release. His son, Ricky Stapler Lisk, 37, was previously sentenced to five years in prison, according to the news release. Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess handed down the sentences.

Cotten, a Juneau resident and the former manager of the Bergmann Hotel, pleaded guilty in April to four counts of drug distribution. Lisk pleaded guilty to one count of drug distribution in February.

The methamphetamine distributions took place May 12, June 2, June 6 and June 7 in 2017, according to Cotten’s plea agreement. Cotten delivered a total of 112 grams of meth on those four days, according to the plea deal, and he delivered them using his 1995 black Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

One of the transactions took place on Cotten’s boat, the M/V Northwind, the plea agreement states. The people who bought the meth from Cotten were participating with law enforcement and recorded audio from the four transactions, prosecutors say.

[Long-running, high-profile Grussendorf sex abuse case comes to conclusion]

Cotten was arrested Oct. 20, 2017, and he had a .45 caliber handgun in his vehicle and nearly 400 grams of a substance that tested positive for meth. Law enforcement officials seized the motorcycle and the boat, and investigators determined that the amount of drugs seized was enough to supply nearly 5,000 people with meth, according to court documents.

While Cotten was the manager of the Bergmann Hotel, the City and Borough of Juneau condemned the historic building on March 9, 2017 for ownership not addressing fire and building code violations.

When the Bergmann was condemned, Cotten was arrested and charged with reckless or intentional violation of a lawful order of the building official, a class A misdemeanor, but the charges were dropped soon afterward.




• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at amccarthy@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys basketball team pose outside Kodiak High School during their sweep over the Bears this weekend. (Photo courtesy JDHS)
JDHS boys topple Kodiak on the road

Crimson Bears sweep island Bears in two-game series.

Aaron Surma, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Juneau and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Council, gives a solo testimony to the Juneau Board of Education on Feb. 6, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
On top of a flat-funded BSA, Juneau Board of Education considers loss of local funding and grants

Principals and mental health advocate give feedback as the Juneau School District plans FY26 budget.

Cars arrive at Juneau International Airport on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau’s airport asking long-ago manager Dave Palmer to return temporarily amidst leadership changes

Palmer would return in April as longtime manager retires; Assembly removes two airport board members.

Pittman’s Pub, which has a bar tent located next to the Hooter chairlift and Fish Creek Lodge, will not open this season, its co-owners told Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors Thursday. Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Pittman’s Pub owners say they won’t open at Eaglecrest this year due to cost, space difficulties

Couple says they would like to take over ski area’s restaurant, continue as a year-round operation.

The Alaska Senate unanimously approves a bill Friday rejecting a recommendation to adjust lawmakers’ salaries for inflation. (Official Alaska State Legislature livestream)
Alaska Senate unanimously rejects automatic salary hikes for top state officials

Commission recommendation for adjustments matching inflation takes effect unless lawmakers say no.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, Feb. 3, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read