Judge Burgess ticketed on dipnetting violation

The Brig is confident the person named in the press release below is U.S District Judge Timothy Burgess of Anchorage. The judge's office was contacted twice to verify whether he had, in fact, received the citation. No reply was received. A copy of the citation, obtained by mail from the court clerk's office in Kenai, shows a middle initial of "M" for the accused. The judge's middle name is Mark. The judge was born in 1956, which is consistent with the age stated in the release. Further, a spokeswoman for the Alaska State Troopers said that according to records they checked, the person cited is Judge Burgess. On Aug. 2, Burgess signed a court paper indicating he was pleading no contest and enclosing the $110 penalty.

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sterling
Type: Fail to record salmon on personal use permit
On 7/21/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Timothy Burgess, 53, of Anchorage, at mile 84 of the Sterling Highway. Investigation revealed that Burgess had harvested five red salmon at the dipnet fisheries in the mouth of the Kenai River and failed to record them on his personal use permit. Burgess was issued a citation for failing to record the salmon on his personal use permit. Bail was set at $110.

Setnet rope takes down trooper patrolling on ATV

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kenai
Type: ATV accident
On 7/11/10 at 0003 hours, Soldotna dispatch received a 911 call reporting an ATV crash on the beach south of the mouth of the Kenai River. CES medics, BHP, AST and AWT responded to the scene. Investigation revealed Alaska Wildlife Trooper Abbott was on patrol traveling south on the beach operating a Yamaha Grizzly ATV when his ATV struck a setnet rope that was pulled taut by the tide. The ATV rolled multiple times causing Abbott to be thrown from the ATV. Abbott was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The caller and several other people came to his aid until medics and AST arrived. Abbott was transported by ambulance to Central Peninsula Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The ATV sustained damage but was driven from the beach.