Juneau, Alaska criminal defense lawyers represented Defendants charged with conspiracy to violate the Indian Arts and Crafts Act for crimes committed when they owned and operated several businesses in Ketchikan, Alaska, involving the sale of Philippine produced stone carvings and wood totem poles as authentic Alaska Native produced artwork.

Between April 2016 through December 8, 2021, C... More...    $0 (05-08-2023 - AK)

"The judge in a criminal jury trial plays a variety of important roles, including:

Presiding over the trial: The judge is responsible for maintaining order in the courtroom and ensuring that the trial proceeds fairly. This includes making rulings on evidentiary objections, instructing the jury on the law, and ensuring that both the prosecution and defense have a fair opportunity to pr... More...    $0 (02-05-2020 - AK)

Anchorage, Alaska criminal law lawyers represented Defendants charged with kidnapping and drug trafficking.

Believing that the victim had stolen drugs from them, Macarthur Christmas Vaifanua, a/k/as "Mac" lured the victim to his home on August 13, 2017. As the victim was leaving the residence, he was led instead into the garage where he was forcibly bound and gagged. The victim was then b... More...    $0 (11-22-2022 - AK)

Anchorage, Alaska criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with wo counts of online enticement or coercion in relation involving two victims.

Alex Asino, 34, was indicted in November 2019 on counts involving child sex trafficking, production and distribution of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor.

Defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of onlin... More...    $0 (03-29-2022 - AK)

Anchorage, AK - Drug trafficking criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant, Brian James Tepner, 48, of Fairbanks, Alaska, who was charged possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of a stolen firearm.

At 3:30 a.m. on March 22, 2019, Tepner was found slumped over in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked at a Sourdough Fuel station in Fairb... More...    $0 (12-19-2020 - AK)

We must decide whether an Alaska law regulating campaign contributions violates the First Amendment. At issue are Alaska’s limit on contributions made by individuals to candidates, its limit on contributions made by individuals to election-related groups, its limit on political party-to-candidate contributions, and its limit on the total funds a candidate may receive from out-of-state residents. T... More...    $0 (11-29-2018 - AK)

Anchorage, AK - Hackers’ Cooperation with FBI Leads to Substantial Assistance in Other Complex Cybercrime Investigations

Defendants Responsible for Creating the “Mirai” and Clickfraud Botnets Continue to Assist FBI as Part of their Sentencing

Three defendants have been sentenced for their roles in creating and operating two botnets, which targeted “Internet of Things” (IoT) devic... More...    $0 (09-19-2018 - AK)

Anchorage, AK - California Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Federal Drug and Gun Offenses in Anchorage

A California man was sentenced on March 9, 2017 for federal drug and gun offenses in Anchorage.

Abreain Terron Dalton, 36, of Victorville, California, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess, to serve 15 years in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervi... More...    $0 (03-19-2018 - AK)

Wells’ convictions arise out of the deaths of Richard W. Belisle and James A. Hopkins, federal employees and Wells’ co-workers at the United States Coast Guard (“USCG”) antenna maintenance facility, located at the USCG Communication Station (“COMMSTA”) on Kodiak Island, Alaska. COMMSTA consists of two main buildings: a large operations center, known as T1; and the antenna maintenance facility, or ... More...    $0 (12-21-2017 - AK)

Defendant-Appellant James Michael Wells (“Wells”) appeals from his jury trial convictions for two counts of First Degree Murder, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1111(a), (b); two counts of Murder of a Federal Employee, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1114, 1111; and two counts of Use of a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence Resulting in Death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924 (c), (j). Wells was se... More...    $0 (12-20-2017 - AK)

John Sturgeon would like to use his hovercraft in a national preserve to reach moose hunting grounds. The State of Alaska is fine with that;1 the federal government is not. Sturgeon’s case turns on which entity—state or federal—gets to decide the matter. On remand from the Supreme Court, we again conclude that the federal government properly exercised its authority to regulate hovercraft use on th... More...    $0 (10-02-2017 - AK)

Seattle, WA - Former Union Treasurer Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling more than $80,000

Stole from Small Union in Snohomish County, then led Efforts to Decertify

The former Treasurer of a small union in Snohomish County was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Seattle to five months in prison for theft of union funds, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. PASCALE MCATEE, 58... More...    $0 (08-30-2017 - AK)

Anchorage, AK - Seafood Processing Company and Owner Sentenced to Pay $60k for Dumping Oil and Raw Sewage

East West Seafoods LLC, a State of Washington company, was sentenced in federal court today to pay a total of $50,000 in fines for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, the Clean Water Act, and the Refuse Act by intentionally discharging oily bilge water and raw sewage in... More...    $0 (03-21-2017 - AK)

Challenged in this case are land and water use permits allowing intensive
mineral exploration on State land. The main question we address is whether the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had to give public notice before issuing the
permits. Because the Alaska Constitution requires public notice when interests in land
are transferred, the answer to this question depends on wheth... More...    $0 (05-29-2015 - AK)

Anthony Gadson and Willie Wilson appeal their
convictions for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams
of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute controlled
substances, and possession of firearms in furtherance of their
conspiracy and possession of controlled substances. Wilson
also appeals his conviction for retaliation against a witness.
On appeal, they challeng... More...    $0 (08-19-2014 - AK)

The primary issue in this consolidated appeal is the validity and interpretation of a roadway easement granted to meet a borough's subdivision plat-waiver requirements. The borough later approved a nearby subdivision project contingent on upgrading the easement roadway. The owners of the servient estate first insisted that the developer maintain his roadway upgrade within the original 50-foot eas... More...    $0 (11-30--0001 - AK)

State of Alaska charged Richard Corum with conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs, Oxycontin, from 2007 to 2011 netting millions to the conspirators.

Alaska Law:

Sec. 11.31.120. Conspiracy. (a) An offender commits the crime of conspiracy if, with the intent to promote or facilitate a serious felony offense, the offender agrees with one or more persons to engage in or cause th... More...    $0 (07-04-2013 - AK)

A woman purchased a home and fell behind on her mortgage payments.
Despite the bank having agreed to postpone a foreclosure sale, the bank proceeded with
the sale. After the woman threatened suit, the bank re-purchased the home and entered
into settlement negotiations with the woman; the bank promised to re-convey the property to the woman so that she could proceed with a sale to a thi... More...    $0 (05-17-2013 - AK)

A motorcyclist was involved in a single-vehicle accident resulting in a cut
on his head and minor damage to his motorcycle. The accident involved no other
drivers, vehicles, or property. Because the motorcycle was not insured at the time of the accident, the State of Alaska, Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspended the driver’s license. The motorcyclist ap... More...    $0 (04-12-2013 - AK)

Fredrick Williams appeals the superior court’s decision affirming the Ketchikan Gateway Borough’s ruling that the house at 511 Stedman Street is not exempt from Ketchikan Gateway Borough taxation. In March 2002 Williams received a grant to rebuild his house from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Housing Improvement Program. Under the grant, Williams would have been required to repay the full amount... More...    $0 (02-15-2013 - AK)

Two nieces, acting as co-guardians for their elderly uncle, sued their uncle’s
former caregiver for misuse and misappropriation of his assets; the caregiver
counterclaimed for compensation for services rendered. After a bench trial, the superior
court: (1) determined the caregiver had committed fraud and breached fiduciary duties;
(2) awarded damages against the caregiver for her... More...    $0 (07-20-2012 - AK)

The Federal Employee Compensation Act, or FECA, provides disability benefits to federal employees who are injured on the job. But there’s a catch. If a third party is responsible for the employee’s injury, the Secretary of Labor can require the employee to bring a civil action against that third party.

And if the employee obtains a judgment, he must refund to the United States any FECA ... More...    $0 (11-17-2011 - AK)

Raising over 50 separate points in this second appeal, Allen Heustess challenges the superior court’s rulings on child support, property distribution, and attorney’s fees. We affirm almost all of the superior court’s rulings, with the following exceptions: (1) Because the record does not support the superior court’s finding regarding Allen’s income for 1995 and because the superior court... More...    $0 (08-26-2011 - AK)

Two men bought an island. After a dispute, they agreed that one would keep the island, while the other would receive a one-time payment and an option to buy the island at a fixed price, adjusted for inflation, if the owner ever chose to sell it. Years passed. The value of the island rose, far outpacing inflation. But the owner never elected to sell. Instead, he eventually conveyed the island to hi... More...    $0 (09-23-2011 - AK)

An elderly woman requiring long-term medical care gave $120,000 to her son in February 2007. The mother believed that the gift would not prevent her from receiving Medicaid coverage if she lived long enough to exhaust her remaining assets. She relied on a provision in Alaska’s Medicaid eligibility manual that suggested prospective Medicaid beneficiaries could give away a portion of their assets ... More...    $0 (09-23-2011 - AK)

In 2002, the superior court appointed a professional conservator for a mother suffering from dementia. Her daughter, who also served as special advocate, resisted the appointment. From 2002 onward, the daughter engaged in wide-ranging legal challenges to the conservator’s handling of her mother’s conservatorship. In response, the conservator incurred large legal fees, paid by the estate, in de... More...    $0 (08-19-2011 - AK)

Plaintiffs Dyer L. Vandevere, John McCombs, Gary Hollier, and John Jent fish commercially for salmon in the waters of Alaska’s Upper Cook Inlet. State-issued entry permits and shore fishery leases allow them to fish there. After Alaska promulgated regulations that shorten the fishing year and limit the number of salmon that commercial fishers may harvest, Plaintiffs brought this action against D... More...    $0 (07-11-2011 - AK)

This appeal arises from the 2008 valuation of a parcel of real property in Anchorage. Larry Varilek, the personal representative of the estate that owns the property, argues that the Board of Equalization overvalued the property. After reviewing the record, we affirm the superior court’s decision upholding the Board’s valuation.

II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

Martha Dunnagan owned a r... More...    $0 (06-10-2011 - AK)

Does the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Appeals Commission have subject matter jurisdiction to review interlocutory orders of the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board before a final Board decision? In 2006 the Commission decided that it had implied jurisdiction to hear motions for extraordinary review, which are similar to petitions for review in the appellate courts. In 2008 an employer asked the... More...    $0 (06-24-2011 - AK)

Defendants Family Centered Services of Alaska (“FCSAâ€�) and its officers filed this interlocutory appeal challenging the district court’s conclusion that FCSA’s Therapeutic Family Homes (“Homesâ€�) are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSAâ€�) and are subject to its overtime provisions. We conclude that the Homes are not covered by that statute because they are not an “instit... More...    $0 (06-23-2011 - AK)

Janet Lewis appeals from the district court’s denial of summary judgment affirming a decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board (“MSPB�), which in turn upheld a decision by the United States Air Force (the “Agency�) to terminate her employment. We affirm.

I

Lewis was director of a child development center on the Elmendorf Air Force Base. In 2003, another candidate was s... More...    $0 (05-26-2011 - AK)

An employee filed suit against her employer for wrongful termination after her union refused to take her grievance to arbitration under the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Relevant federal law required the employee to prove as part of her wrongful termination claim that her union had breached its duty of fair representation when handling her grievance.1 During trial the employer twice ... More...    $0 (04-15-2011 - AK)

Advanced Physical Therapy (APT) terminated the employment of Patricia Hoendermis (“Pattiâ€�), the clinic’s practice administrator, for an inability to communicate with her co-workers and supervisor. Hoendermis sued APT for wrongful termination and failure to provide overtime compensation. The superior court granted APT summary judgment on both claims. Hoendermis appeals. We reverse the grants ... More...    $0 (04-29-2011 - AK)

Evelyn Rivera twice injured her back while working at Wal-Mart. After initially paying workers’ compensation benefits to her, Wal-Mart filed a controversion because its physician thought that she had suffered only a temporary aggravation of a preexisting low back condition that should have healed by the date of controversion.

After a hearing, the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board denie... More...    $0 (02-11-2011 - AK)

On February 20, 2008, following an evidentiary hearing, the superior court calculated the future child support obligations that Allison Hill owed to Deborah Bloom. The court used a five-year average of Hill’s income from 2002 to 2006 to calculate child support for 2008 forward. The court rejected Hill’s argument that her substantially reduced 2007 income should be the basis of her future child... More...    $0 (07-09-2010 - AK)

After the jury returned a favorable damages verdict, the plaintiff moved for attorney’s fees under Alaska Rule of Civil Procedure 68. Despite having a contingency fee agreement with his attorney, the plaintiff requested attorney’s fees based on his attorney’s time and hourly rate. The trial court granted the plaintiff’s motion. The defendant challenges the award, arguing that (1) it was er... More...    $0 (07-16-2010 - AK)