A Petersburg man was indicted by a Juneau grand jury Thursday on murder charges for allegedly causing a fatal crash after being warned by doctors that he should not drive.
William Christopher Allen, 24, was indicted on two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of manslaughter for the deaths of Molly Judge-Parks, 18, and Marie Giesbrecht, 19, and a single count of assault in the first degree involving Catherine Cardenas, 19, all of Petersburg.
On July 4, 2016, Allen and the victims were working for the Borough of Petersburg when Allen drove a borough van in spite of warnings from doctors that he should not drive because of a well-documented seizure disorder, Assistant Attorney General Andrew Peterson said in a press release from the state Office of Special Prosecutions.
Allen allegedly drove off the road at a high rate of speed and the van vaulted over a guardrail, landing upside down in an embankment and crushing the top of the vehicle, killing Judge-Parks and Giesbrecht and injuring Cardenas and Allen.
The Petersburg Fourth of July parade and carnival were canceled as a result of the crash, according to KFSK Community Radio.
Allen’s seizures reportedly began in 2011 and continued unabated despite being prescribed medication intended to control his seizures. At times, Allen’s seizures allegedly would leave him completely unable to stand and completely unaware that he was having a seizure.
Allen was indicted in Juneau because the capital is a grand jury site for Petersburg, Peterson explained. Bail was set at $50,000 plus a court-approved third party custodian; Allen was arraigned in Petersburg on Tuesday. The charge of murder in the second degree carries a possible sentence of 15 to 99 years in prison, a maximum fine of $500,000, and restitution.
Sentencings
Here is a list of recent sentencings and court proceedings from the Juneau District and Superior Courts.
• Christopher J. Davidson, 43, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to 60 days in prison.
• Anthony Delgado, 29, pleaded no contest to larceny and was fined $100.
• Anthony David Don, 47, pleaded guilty to larceny and was placed on six months probation; he also was ordered to perform 24 hours of community work service.
• Nathan T. Giske, 40, pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and was fined $100.
• Tyler S. Johnson, 38, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary and was sentenced to 12 months in prison, nine suspended, and 12 months probation. He was to have no contact with the victim and write an apology letter.
• Clinton K. Kearney, 45, pleaded guilty to larceny and was fined $50.
• Rainon S. Knowles, 20, pleaded guilty to violating a protective order and was sentenced to 20 days in prison, suspended, and 12 months probation.
• Bethany Kunkle, 31, pleaded guilty to violating conditions of release, criminal mischief, and violating probation, and was sentenced to 30 days in prison, 25, suspended, along with a $25 fine.
• Alan Jeffrey Lee, 31, pleaded guilty to criminal trespass on May 29, June 6, June 12, June 25 and July 11 and was sentenced to 25 days in prison.
• Timothy Roger Lee, 46, pleaded guilty to harassment and was sentenced to 10 day, suspended, with a $500 fine, suspended, and 12 months probation; he was also to complete a treatment program at Rainforest Recovery Center.
• Sharnea R. Lunn, 24, was fined $100 on a larceny charge.
• Charles Alan Meisch, 53, pleaded guilty to larceny and was sentenced to 30 days in prison, suspended, and was fined $100.
• William Allen Milton Jr., 24, violated probation on a DUI conviction.
• Chato Michael Moss, 27, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault and was sentenced to 365 days in prison with 305 suspended and three years probation; he must also obtain a substance abuse assessment and up to 30 days inpatient treatment.
• Karina I. Ogai, 29, violated probation on a DUI conviction.
• River E. Parrish, 20, pleaded guilty to larceny and was sentenced to 20 days in prison.
• Rayna Sarabia, 43, was sentenced to 10 days in prison after pleading guilty to a May 25 criminal trespass. She pleaded guilty to larceny in a separate case from May 18 and was sentenced to 30 days in prison.
• George Andrew Shorty, 37, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI and was sentenced to 30 days in prison with 27 days suspended, as well as a $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended and 12 months probation.
• Clifford John White, 25, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to one day in prison.
• Roy M. Williams, 29, pleaded guilty to violating a protective order and was sentenced to one day in prison.
• Thomas Williams, 56, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to one day in prison.
