Cops and Courts

Timothy Ray Young, 54, was arrested Nov. 7, 2019 for two counts of assault in the 3rd degree and one count of misconduct with weapons in the 2nd degree for firing two flares into an apartment and shooting out the window with a rifle during an altercation in the Coho Park Apartments. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Man arrested after flare gun, rifle fired in apartment during fight

The suspect was arrested without incident Wednesday evening

Timothy Ray Young, 54, was arrested Nov. 7, 2019 for two counts of assault in the 3rd degree and one count of misconduct with weapons in the 2nd degree for firing two flares into an apartment and shooting out the window with a rifle during an altercation in the Coho Park Apartments. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Dimond Courthouse is home to Juneau’s court systems, Oct. 25, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

As Alaska public defenders offices are foundering, Juneau holds steady

Southeast is OK, but the state’s public defenders are in rough seas.

Dimond Courthouse is home to Juneau’s court systems, Oct. 25, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Loretto Lee Jones, 65, appears in Juneau Superior Court on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, during her trial on Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend felony theft and fraud. The two charges stem from allegations that Jones filed for her PFD payout in 2016 while having resided outside the state for more than 180 days. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Attorneys dive right into heart of PFD fraud case

The past isn’t always easy to reconstruct.

Loretto Lee Jones, 65, appears in Juneau Superior Court on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, during her trial on Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend felony theft and fraud. The two charges stem from allegations that Jones filed for her PFD payout in 2016 while having resided outside the state for more than 180 days. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Loretto Lee Jones, a former Assembly candidate, is on trial for PFD fraud. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Loretto Lee Jones, a former Assembly candidate, is on trial for PFD fraud. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Micah Nelson, 28, arrives in Juneau Superior Court for his arraignment on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Micah Nelson, 28, arrives in Juneau Superior Court for his arraignment on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Micah Nelson, 28.

Update: Wanted man arrested peacefully after standoff

Police took him into custody without violence.

Micah Nelson, 28.
Micah Nelson is wanted by the Juneau Police Department in connection with an assault Tuesday.
Micah Nelson is wanted by the Juneau Police Department in connection with an assault Tuesday.
In this April 18, 2019, file photo, Attorney General William Barr speaks about the release of a redacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington. (AP Photo | Patrick Semansky, File)

AFN highlights widespread public safety failings in rural communities

There’s deep fear concerning the state of Alaska’s public safety.

In this April 18, 2019, file photo, Attorney General William Barr speaks about the release of a redacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington. (AP Photo | Patrick Semansky, File)
Prosecuting Attorney John Darnall, from the Office of Special Prosecutions, gives his closing argument in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, during the trial of Laron Carlton Graham. Graham is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Prosecution sticks to evidence as defense attacks witnesses in closing arguments

The trial for a 2015 double murder is now in the hands of the jury.

Prosecuting Attorney John Darnall, from the Office of Special Prosecutions, gives his closing argument in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, during the trial of Laron Carlton Graham. Graham is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The trial of Laron Carlton Graham for the murder of Elizabeth Tonsmeire and Robby Meireis continued in Juneau on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The trial of Laron Carlton Graham for the murder of Elizabeth Tonsmeire and Robby Meireis continued in Juneau on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Prosecuting Attorney John Darnall, from the Office of Special Prosecutions, right, shows pictures of recovered bullets and their casings to Juneau Police Department Sgt. Matt DuBois during the double murder trial of Laron Carlton Graham in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. Graham is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Prosecuting Attorney John Darnall, from the Office of Special Prosecutions, right, shows pictures of recovered bullets and their casings to Juneau Police Department Sgt. Matt DuBois during the double murder trial of Laron Carlton Graham in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. Graham is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Overall Alaska crime down, but violent crime is at 5 year high
Overall Alaska crime down, but violent crime is at 5 year high
Prosecuting Attorney John Darnall, from the Office of Special Prosecutions, right, shows pictures of recovered bullets and their casings to Juneau Police Department Sgt. Matt DuBois during the double murder trial of Laron Carlton Graham in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. Graham is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Prosecuting Attorney John Darnall, from the Office of Special Prosecutions, right, shows pictures of recovered bullets and their casings to Juneau Police Department Sgt. Matt DuBois during the double murder trial of Laron Carlton Graham in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. Graham is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Police Department Officer Ronald Shriver answers questions on the witness stand from defense attorney Natasha Norris in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, during Graham’s trial. Graham is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. Shriver was a Department of Corrections officer working at Lemon Creek Correctional Center when Graham was housed there in 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Police Department Officer Ronald Shriver answers questions on the witness stand from defense attorney Natasha Norris in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, during Graham’s trial. Graham is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. Shriver was a Department of Corrections officer working at Lemon Creek Correctional Center when Graham was housed there in 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Lorissa Evenson, a former girlfriend of Laron Carlton Graham, answers questions on the witness stand from defense attorney Natasha Norris in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, during Graham’s trial. Graham is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Lorissa Evenson, a former girlfriend of Laron Carlton Graham, answers questions on the witness stand from defense attorney Natasha Norris in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, during Graham’s trial. Graham is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Regan Tweedy, mother of James LeBlanc-Tweedy, answers questions on the witness stand to questioning by defense attorney Natasha Norris in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, during the trial of Laron Carlton Graham. Graham is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Regan Tweedy, mother of James LeBlanc-Tweedy, answers questions on the witness stand to questioning by defense attorney Natasha Norris in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, during the trial of Laron Carlton Graham. Graham is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Defense targets honesty of key witness in double murder trial
Defense targets honesty of key witness in double murder trial
James LeBlanc-Tweedy is called to the witness stand in Juneau Superior Court on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, during the trial of Laron Carlton Graham on two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
James LeBlanc-Tweedy is called to the witness stand in Juneau Superior Court on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, during the trial of Laron Carlton Graham on two counts of first-degree murder for the November 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Double murder trial shines light on Juneau drug scene

Double murder trial shines light on Juneau drug scene

The investigation turned up many interesting witnesses.

Double murder trial shines light on Juneau drug scene
Dimond Courthouse in downtown Juneau, where the double murder trial against defendant Laron Carlton Graham is being held. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Expert witness discusses firearms forensics before jury

Rounds fired both came from same missing weapon.

Dimond Courthouse in downtown Juneau, where the double murder trial against defendant Laron Carlton Graham is being held. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)