Cops and Courts

A Juneau man was indicted at the beginning of April for two charges of sexual abuse of a minor, according to an Alaska Department of Law news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau man indicted on sexual abuse of a minor charges

The maximum penalty if convicted is 99 years imprisonment.

A Juneau man was indicted at the beginning of April for two charges of sexual abuse of a minor, according to an Alaska Department of Law news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Juneau Police Department are seeking Brenda Jay Gallant, 40, after she was indicted recently for her alleged role in a 2021 vehicle arson. (Courtesy photo / JPD)

Police seeking woman indicted for arson

The indictment for the August fire came this March.

The Juneau Police Department are seeking Brenda Jay Gallant, 40, after she was indicted recently for her alleged role in a 2021 vehicle arson. (Courtesy photo / JPD)
Two women were indicted Thursday for the arson of vehicle near Skater’s Cabin that occurred on Aug. 5, 2020. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)
Two women were indicted Thursday for the arson of vehicle near Skater’s Cabin that occurred on Aug. 5, 2020. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)
A phone screen displays a message warning of a potential spam call. Juneau Police Department warns residents to be aware of a scam involving someone claiming to be with Social Security Administration. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Police warn of phone phishing scam

Scammers are posing as members of the Social Security Administration.

A phone screen displays a message warning of a potential spam call. Juneau Police Department warns residents to be aware of a scam involving someone claiming to be with Social Security Administration. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Former DHS employee Bert Christopher Heitstuman was arrested in Anchorage Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 for multiple counts of sexual assault. (Courtesy photo / Department of Law)
Former DHS employee Bert Christopher Heitstuman was arrested in Anchorage Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 for multiple counts of sexual assault. (Courtesy photo / Department of Law)
Juneau Police Department officers arrested a man obstructing traffic and acting erratically on Egan Drive Tuesday evening, Feb. 16, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police detain man obstructing traffic on Glacier Highway

The man sustained minor injuries when he was being apprehended Tuesday evening.

Juneau Police Department officers arrested a man obstructing traffic and acting erratically on Egan Drive Tuesday evening, Feb. 16, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Presiding judges in the Alaska court system will be able to choose whether to go forward with criminal jury trials on a case by case basis soon, such as those held at the Dimond Courthouse, seen here Oct. 20, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Mask policy, largely suspended jury trials remain in place for state’s courts

The presiding judge will choose to hold jury trials on a case-by-case basis going forward.

Presiding judges in the Alaska court system will be able to choose whether to go forward with criminal jury trials on a case by case basis soon, such as those held at the Dimond Courthouse, seen here Oct. 20, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A 61-year-old man in Kotzebue was arrested Dec. 17 for sex trafficking of a minor, a charge with a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
A 61-year-old man in Kotzebue was arrested Dec. 17 for sex trafficking of a minor, a charge with a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
Kelly Michael Stevens, pictured here in 2007, was shot and killed during an encounter with a Juneau Police Department officer on Dec. 29, 2019. The family is filing a wrongful death suit against the JPD, the City and Borough of Juneau, and the officer involved in the shooting. (Courtesy photo / Ben Crittenden)
Kelly Michael Stevens, pictured here in 2007, was shot and killed during an encounter with a Juneau Police Department officer on Dec. 29, 2019. The family is filing a wrongful death suit against the JPD, the City and Borough of Juneau, and the officer involved in the shooting. (Courtesy photo / Ben Crittenden)
File

Superior Court declares abortion funds veto unconstitutional

The court ordered the restoration of $334,700 to the budget of the state’s appellate courts.

File
Kelly Michael Stephens, shown in this 2007 photo, was shot and killed during an encounter with a Juneau Police Department officer on Dec. 29, 2019. The family is filing a wrongful death suit against the JPD, the City and Borough of Juneau, and the officer involved in the shooting. (Courtesy photo | Ben Crittenden)

Family files wrongful death suit against Juneau police, city

They want to view the audio and video from the encounter for their own investigation.

Kelly Michael Stephens, shown in this 2007 photo, was shot and killed during an encounter with a Juneau Police Department officer on Dec. 29, 2019. The family is filing a wrongful death suit against the JPD, the City and Borough of Juneau, and the officer involved in the shooting. (Courtesy photo | Ben Crittenden)
An Anchorage man was sentenced to prison for multiple armed robberies on Nov. 13, 2020. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Anchorage man gets 13 years for multiple armed robberies

No one was injured, but the man did shoot into the ceiling in the robberies.

An Anchorage man was sentenced to prison for multiple armed robberies on Nov. 13, 2020. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
The Dimond Courthouse in Juneau, Alaska, Oct. 20, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Dimond Courthouse in Juneau, Alaska, Oct. 20, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Dimond Courthouse is home to Juneau's court systems, Oct. 25, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Juneau district court set to reopen for misdemeanors next month

Felony trials will recommence in January, as currently scheduled.

Dimond Courthouse is home to Juneau's court systems, Oct. 25, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department arrested a Juneau man suspected of killing a woman in a domestic incident in 2019 on Oct. 2. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department arrested a Juneau man suspected of killing a woman in a domestic incident in 2019 on Oct. 2. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
A suspect was arrested Wednesday following the burglary of Bullwinkle’s Pizza Parlor in the Mendenhall Valley on Monday morning. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alleged Bullwinkle’s burglar behind bars

The suspect was arrested peacefully and goods recovered.

A suspect was arrested Wednesday following the burglary of Bullwinkle’s Pizza Parlor in the Mendenhall Valley on Monday morning. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Task force arrests two, seizes $40,000 in drugs

Task force arrests two, seizes $40,000 in drugs

The regional organization has members from a number of law enforcement agencies.

Task force arrests two, seizes $40,000 in drugs
Screenshot                                Members of Tlingit and Haida’s lunchtime chat discuss the tribal courts system over web conference on June 25.

Tlingit and Haida talks tribal courts at weekly luncheon

Soon, the courts will gain access to several national crime databases.

Screenshot                                Members of Tlingit and Haida’s lunchtime chat discuss the tribal courts system over web conference on June 25.
Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire                                The Juneau Police Department, March 20, 2020.

Improving but there’s more work to do, JPD and Assembly agree

The JPD meets many standards protesters want already, chief says

Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire                                The Juneau Police Department, March 20, 2020.
Chief Ed Mercer of the Juneau Police Department answered questions from the Assembly of the City and Borough of Juneau on the department’s use of force policy, oversight, and other topics during an Assembly webinar on June 9, 2020. (Stock photo | Juneau Empire)

Assembly asks for use of force policy specifics

Police department’s top brass says no for now, citing legal concerns.

Chief Ed Mercer of the Juneau Police Department answered questions from the Assembly of the City and Borough of Juneau on the department’s use of force policy, oversight, and other topics during an Assembly webinar on June 9, 2020. (Stock photo | Juneau Empire)