From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Soldotna
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 11/16/12 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna issued a summons to Samuel A. Kuznetsov, 24, of Homer, to appear on 1/8/13 in Homer District Court. Kuznetsov was charged with commercial fishing with a drift gillnet in closed waters in Upper Cook Inlet on 7/9/12.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Dutch Harbor report
From the local police blotter:
Harassment, Nov. 11 — Officers mediated a dispute, which had erupted after one man blew cigarette smoke in the other's face, between two men from warring Somali tribes. Both men were barred from visiting any UniSea liquor establishments.
Ambulance request, Nov. 12 — EMS personnel stood by to provide transport for a patient arriving by tug boat. Medical attention was ultimately unnecessary.
Motor vehicle accident, Nov. 12 — A driver bailed from his vehicle when the brakes failed and the vehicle began rolling down an embankment into the water. The truck came to rest in approximately 15 feet of water at the Carl E. Moses Harbor, and was pulled from the water a short time later. No injuries were reported.
Suspicious activity, Nov. 13, 0125 hours — An amorous bloke who in a misguided attempt to attract a mate placed his genitals on full, flapping display in the roadway instead caught the attention of a passing police officer. The luckless lad was allowed to leave without charges since the intended victim couldn't be offended by what she couldn't see.
Disorderly conduct, Nov. 13 — Officers broke up a fight at the Harbor View bar, and ultimately arrested one drunken young man who couldn't resist taking a final swing at another participant even after the two had been separated. Sami Morris Maafu, 20, of Washington, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, minor on premises and minor in possession of alcohol.
Fire response, Nov. 16 — Fire personnel responded to the U.S. Coast Guard dock regarding a report of a fire onboard the drillship Noble Discoverer. The smoke reported was from an apparent backfire, and no action was required of responders. No injuries or damage were reported.
Harassment, Nov. 11 — Officers mediated a dispute, which had erupted after one man blew cigarette smoke in the other's face, between two men from warring Somali tribes. Both men were barred from visiting any UniSea liquor establishments.
Ambulance request, Nov. 12 — EMS personnel stood by to provide transport for a patient arriving by tug boat. Medical attention was ultimately unnecessary.
Motor vehicle accident, Nov. 12 — A driver bailed from his vehicle when the brakes failed and the vehicle began rolling down an embankment into the water. The truck came to rest in approximately 15 feet of water at the Carl E. Moses Harbor, and was pulled from the water a short time later. No injuries were reported.
Suspicious activity, Nov. 13, 0125 hours — An amorous bloke who in a misguided attempt to attract a mate placed his genitals on full, flapping display in the roadway instead caught the attention of a passing police officer. The luckless lad was allowed to leave without charges since the intended victim couldn't be offended by what she couldn't see.
Disorderly conduct, Nov. 13 — Officers broke up a fight at the Harbor View bar, and ultimately arrested one drunken young man who couldn't resist taking a final swing at another participant even after the two had been separated. Sami Morris Maafu, 20, of Washington, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, minor on premises and minor in possession of alcohol.
Fire response, Nov. 16 — Fire personnel responded to the U.S. Coast Guard dock regarding a report of a fire onboard the drillship Noble Discoverer. The smoke reported was from an apparent backfire, and no action was required of responders. No injuries or damage were reported.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Two charged with exceeding geoduck limit
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Ketchikan
Type: Overlimit of geoduck clams
On 11/1/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Ketchikan Post, cited Brian Zwick, 42, of Ketchikan, for retaining more than the limit of geoducks for the commercial fishing period set out by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. A mandatory court appearance was scheduled for 11/15/12 in Ketchikan District Court.
Location: Ketchikan
Type: Overlimit of geoduck clams
On 11/1/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Ketchikan Post, cited Robert Mead, 44, of Olympic, Wash., for retaining more than the limit of geoducks for the commercial fishing period set out by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. A mandatory court appearance was scheduled for 11/30/12 in Ketchikan District Court.
Location: Ketchikan
Type: Overlimit of geoduck clams
On 11/1/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Ketchikan Post, cited Brian Zwick, 42, of Ketchikan, for retaining more than the limit of geoducks for the commercial fishing period set out by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. A mandatory court appearance was scheduled for 11/15/12 in Ketchikan District Court.
Location: Ketchikan
Type: Overlimit of geoduck clams
On 11/1/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Ketchikan Post, cited Robert Mead, 44, of Olympic, Wash., for retaining more than the limit of geoducks for the commercial fishing period set out by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. A mandatory court appearance was scheduled for 11/30/12 in Ketchikan District Court.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Hankins draws probation, $100,000 in penalties
From the U.S. attorney's office in Anchorage:
Nov. 15, 2012
Oregon man sentenced for commercial fishing crimes
ANCHORAGE — U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that an Oregon man was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for two counts of falsely reporting where he caught 31,000 pounds of halibut that he sold in Kodiak in 2007.
Freddie Joe Hankins, 47, of Cove, Ore., was sentenced on Nov. 8 by U.S. District Court Judge H. Russel Holland to fines totaling $25,000, a community service payment of $75,000, and three years of probation on the condition that all his fishing activities be recorded by an onboard electronic vessel monitoring system.
The sentence also requires Hankins to publish in National Fisherman magazine a statement acknowledging his wrongdoing in this case.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Cooper, the evidence established that Hankins had caught the halibut in an area where it was illegal for him to fish under the individual fishing quota system, and that he falsely stated in his landing reports that he caught the fish in another more distant but legal area.
Arne Fuglvog, former fisheries aide to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who served a prison term for his fisheries conviction, testified at the Hankins trial that he had fished with Hankins, and that Hankins had previously made similar false landing reports claiming he caught his fish in the more distant but legal area when in fact he caught them in the area closer to port where the fishing was better but where it was illegal for him to fish.
Evidence also showed Hankins was convicted in state court in 2007 for falsifying a landing report to conceal the fact that he had exceeded the allowable bycatch of rockfish.
When sentencing Hankins, Holland found that Hankins had knowingly testified falsely at his trial when he denied he falsified the landing reports, and that this testimony amounted to perjury. The judge found further that Hankins was still "in a state of denial" about having committed the crimes for which the jury convicted him.
Loeffler commends the Office of Law Enforcement of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the investigation of this case.
Nov. 15, 2012
Oregon man sentenced for commercial fishing crimes
ANCHORAGE — U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that an Oregon man was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for two counts of falsely reporting where he caught 31,000 pounds of halibut that he sold in Kodiak in 2007.
Freddie Joe Hankins, 47, of Cove, Ore., was sentenced on Nov. 8 by U.S. District Court Judge H. Russel Holland to fines totaling $25,000, a community service payment of $75,000, and three years of probation on the condition that all his fishing activities be recorded by an onboard electronic vessel monitoring system.
The sentence also requires Hankins to publish in National Fisherman magazine a statement acknowledging his wrongdoing in this case.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Cooper, the evidence established that Hankins had caught the halibut in an area where it was illegal for him to fish under the individual fishing quota system, and that he falsely stated in his landing reports that he caught the fish in another more distant but legal area.
Arne Fuglvog, former fisheries aide to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who served a prison term for his fisheries conviction, testified at the Hankins trial that he had fished with Hankins, and that Hankins had previously made similar false landing reports claiming he caught his fish in the more distant but legal area when in fact he caught them in the area closer to port where the fishing was better but where it was illegal for him to fish.
Evidence also showed Hankins was convicted in state court in 2007 for falsifying a landing report to conceal the fact that he had exceeded the allowable bycatch of rockfish.
When sentencing Hankins, Holland found that Hankins had knowingly testified falsely at his trial when he denied he falsified the landing reports, and that this testimony amounted to perjury. The judge found further that Hankins was still "in a state of denial" about having committed the crimes for which the jury convicted him.
Loeffler commends the Office of Law Enforcement of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the investigation of this case.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Geoduck divers find trouble at Craig
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Craig
Type: Conviction — commercial fish closed waters
On 11/1/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Klawock Post, cited Eric R. Larson, 32, and Morris B. Mattson, 46, both of Petersburg, for commercial fishing for geoduck clams in closed waters. Both individuals pled no contest in Craig District Court and were fined $3,000 with $1,500 suspended. The court ordered each to pay restitution of $2,000 for the illegally taken geoducks.
Location: Craig
Type: False information on fish ticket
On 11/8/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Klawock Post, cited both permit holders of the fishing vessel The Edge for unlawfully signing a fish ticket with an inaccurate weight after a delivery of commercially harvested geoducks at the E.C. Phillips processing plant in Craig. Randall Selness, 49, of Olympia, Wash., and Ian Walt, 47, of Friday Harbor, Wash., were issued a summons to appear in Craig District Court.
Location: Craig
Type: Conviction — commercial fish closed waters
On 11/1/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Klawock Post, cited Eric R. Larson, 32, and Morris B. Mattson, 46, both of Petersburg, for commercial fishing for geoduck clams in closed waters. Both individuals pled no contest in Craig District Court and were fined $3,000 with $1,500 suspended. The court ordered each to pay restitution of $2,000 for the illegally taken geoducks.
Location: Craig
Type: False information on fish ticket
On 11/8/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Klawock Post, cited both permit holders of the fishing vessel The Edge for unlawfully signing a fish ticket with an inaccurate weight after a delivery of commercially harvested geoducks at the E.C. Phillips processing plant in Craig. Randall Selness, 49, of Olympia, Wash., and Ian Walt, 47, of Friday Harbor, Wash., were issued a summons to appear in Craig District Court.
Dutch Harbor report
From the local police blotter:
Trespass, Nov. 5 — Officer advised a man he was no longer welcome on St. Christopher-by-the-Sea property, per church administrators.
Public safety, Nov. 10 — Officer advised a drunken bar patron not to drive home this night. The man left on foot after loudly and repeatedly proclaiming the destruction of his life and reputation at the hands of police.
Sexual assault/offense, Nov. 10 — A rather irate man reported that one of the other men sharing his hotel room had within the last two hours tried to stick his hand down the victim's pants, twice, before lying on top of him. The victim elected not to pursue charges as he simply wanted some uninterrupted sleep, but demanded that the creep be removed from his room. UniSea security evicted the person forthwith, though he was allowed to get a room, by himself, for the remainder of the night.
Trespass, Nov. 5 — Officer advised a man he was no longer welcome on St. Christopher-by-the-Sea property, per church administrators.
Public safety, Nov. 10 — Officer advised a drunken bar patron not to drive home this night. The man left on foot after loudly and repeatedly proclaiming the destruction of his life and reputation at the hands of police.
Sexual assault/offense, Nov. 10 — A rather irate man reported that one of the other men sharing his hotel room had within the last two hours tried to stick his hand down the victim's pants, twice, before lying on top of him. The victim elected not to pursue charges as he simply wanted some uninterrupted sleep, but demanded that the creep be removed from his room. UniSea security evicted the person forthwith, though he was allowed to get a room, by himself, for the remainder of the night.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Ketchikan gillnetter arrested on warrant
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Ketchikan
Type: Warrant arrest
On 11/07/12 at 2141 hours, Thomas Widmyer, 41, of Ketchikan, was arrested on an outstanding warrant stemming from failure to appear for order to show cause with the original charge stemming from a commercial fishing incident. Widmyer was lodged at the Ketchikan Correctional Center with bail set at $100.
Location: Ketchikan
Type: Warrant arrest
On 11/07/12 at 2141 hours, Thomas Widmyer, 41, of Ketchikan, was arrested on an outstanding warrant stemming from failure to appear for order to show cause with the original charge stemming from a commercial fishing incident. Widmyer was lodged at the Ketchikan Correctional Center with bail set at $100.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Longline gear reported stolen in Kodiak
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Kodiak
Type: Theft
On 11/3/12 Alaska State Troopers were contacted by an adult male resident of Kodiak who reported the theft of commercial fishing equipment from a storage lot located in the area of Bells Flats. A preliminary investigation revealed that sometime since early September, a Kolstrand brand hydraulic longline hauler was cut from its base and stolen from the storage lot. The combined value of the hauler and damage to the base is estimated at $3,000.
Location: Kodiak
Type: Theft
On 11/3/12 Alaska State Troopers were contacted by an adult male resident of Kodiak who reported the theft of commercial fishing equipment from a storage lot located in the area of Bells Flats. A preliminary investigation revealed that sometime since early September, a Kolstrand brand hydraulic longline hauler was cut from its base and stolen from the storage lot. The combined value of the hauler and damage to the base is estimated at $3,000.
Three gillnetters fined in Juneau court action
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Juneau
Type: Trial — commercial fish closed period
On 11/6/12 Larry "Jev" Shelton, 70, of Juneau, was found guilty in Juneau District Court on one count of operating a commercial gillnet during a closed period. Shelton was charged after his vessel, the F/V Kirsten Anna, was observed by Alaska Wildlife Troopers in a state aircraft with some gillnet still in the water after the scheduled closure. The violation occurred in District 11B north of Circle Point. On a second charge of operating the vessel with obscured Alaska Department of Fish and Game numbers, Shelton was found not guilty though he was encouraged by the court to apply a fresh coat of paint. Shelton was fined $2,000 with $1,250 suspended and placed on probation for one year.
Location: Juneau
Type: Trial — commercial fish closed period
On 10/29/12 Winston Davies, 35, of Wrangell, was found guilty in Juneau District Court of commercial drift gillnet fishing during a closed period. Hoonah Wildlife Troopers had observed Davies onboard the F/V Blue Mist with his net still fishing more than 20 minutes after the gillnet fishery had closed in District 15C north of Juneau. Davies contended his net had become tangled with a sportfishing boat, and that caused him to not be able to pull in his net by the closure. Davies was ordered to pay $1,000 with $750 suspended and forfeit $200 worth of fish.
Location: Juneau
Type: Plea — commercial fish closed period
On 10/25/12 Donald A. Malcolm, 34, of Homer, pled guilty to one count of operating a commercial gillnet during a closed period in District 15C north of Juneau. Malcolm was fined $500 and ordered to forfeit $283 in illegally taken fish. Juneau prosecutors dropped a second count as part of the plea agreement. The charges stemmed from two separate incidents in July in which Alaska Wildlife Troopers first videotaped Malcolm fishing north of the Point Bridgett line, then observed him from the air the next day fishing south of the boat harbor line. Both incidents occurred in District 15C, which covers southern Lynn Canal. Commercial fishermen netted over $2.3 million worth of salmon in District 15C during the July 8-11 fishing period.
Location: Juneau
Type: Trial — commercial fish closed period
On 11/6/12 Larry "Jev" Shelton, 70, of Juneau, was found guilty in Juneau District Court on one count of operating a commercial gillnet during a closed period. Shelton was charged after his vessel, the F/V Kirsten Anna, was observed by Alaska Wildlife Troopers in a state aircraft with some gillnet still in the water after the scheduled closure. The violation occurred in District 11B north of Circle Point. On a second charge of operating the vessel with obscured Alaska Department of Fish and Game numbers, Shelton was found not guilty though he was encouraged by the court to apply a fresh coat of paint. Shelton was fined $2,000 with $1,250 suspended and placed on probation for one year.
Location: Juneau
Type: Trial — commercial fish closed period
On 10/29/12 Winston Davies, 35, of Wrangell, was found guilty in Juneau District Court of commercial drift gillnet fishing during a closed period. Hoonah Wildlife Troopers had observed Davies onboard the F/V Blue Mist with his net still fishing more than 20 minutes after the gillnet fishery had closed in District 15C north of Juneau. Davies contended his net had become tangled with a sportfishing boat, and that caused him to not be able to pull in his net by the closure. Davies was ordered to pay $1,000 with $750 suspended and forfeit $200 worth of fish.
Location: Juneau
Type: Plea — commercial fish closed period
On 10/25/12 Donald A. Malcolm, 34, of Homer, pled guilty to one count of operating a commercial gillnet during a closed period in District 15C north of Juneau. Malcolm was fined $500 and ordered to forfeit $283 in illegally taken fish. Juneau prosecutors dropped a second count as part of the plea agreement. The charges stemmed from two separate incidents in July in which Alaska Wildlife Troopers first videotaped Malcolm fishing north of the Point Bridgett line, then observed him from the air the next day fishing south of the boat harbor line. Both incidents occurred in District 15C, which covers southern Lynn Canal. Commercial fishermen netted over $2.3 million worth of salmon in District 15C during the July 8-11 fishing period.
Sitka lodge owners fined after guilty pleas
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Sitka
Type: Plea — false statement on license application
On 11/6/12 Thomas C. Ohaus, of South Dartmouth, Mass., pled guilty in Sitka District Court to four counts of making false statements on sportfish licenses. Ohaus was fined $4,000 with $1,500 suspended, ordered to pay $3,165 in restitution to the state, and placed on one year probation. His sportfish license was revoked for one year, with the revocation suspended as a condition of probation.
Location: Sitka
Type: Plea — false statement on license application
On 11/6/12 Charles McNamee, of Nevis, Minn., pled guilty in Sitka District Court to four counts of making false statements on sportfish licenses. McNamee was fined $4,000 with $1,500 suspended, ordered to pay $3,165 in restitution to the state, and placed on one year probation. His sportfish license was revoked for one year, with the revocation suspended as a condition of probation.
Click here for a previous report on these cases.
Location: Sitka
Type: Plea — false statement on license application
On 11/6/12 Thomas C. Ohaus, of South Dartmouth, Mass., pled guilty in Sitka District Court to four counts of making false statements on sportfish licenses. Ohaus was fined $4,000 with $1,500 suspended, ordered to pay $3,165 in restitution to the state, and placed on one year probation. His sportfish license was revoked for one year, with the revocation suspended as a condition of probation.
Location: Sitka
Type: Plea — false statement on license application
On 11/6/12 Charles McNamee, of Nevis, Minn., pled guilty in Sitka District Court to four counts of making false statements on sportfish licenses. McNamee was fined $4,000 with $1,500 suspended, ordered to pay $3,165 in restitution to the state, and placed on one year probation. His sportfish license was revoked for one year, with the revocation suspended as a condition of probation.
Click here for a previous report on these cases.
Dutch Harbor report
From the local police blotter:
Welfare check, Oct. 28 — Caller reported seeing unsupervised kids playing on a bridge and hanging from the rail over Iliuliuk Creek. Officer contacted the two boys who ultimately admitted to hanging off the bridge "a little bit." Officer explained the concerns about said behavior and advised them to no longer take such risks.
Assault, Nov. 1 — Caller reported she got punched in the head for no apparent reason. The complainant did not want to press charges. Investigation determined the complainant got punched because she wantonly hugged a friend of the assailant.
Drunk disturbance, Nov. 1 — Officers responded to the Grand Aleutian hotel where three "Samoans" reportedly beat up a tall white male who was described by witnesses as being rude, very racist and asking for a fight all night. Officers contacted the victim who refused to provide any information.
Suspicious activity, Nov. 1 — While conducting a bar check, officers were advised of an altercation that took place aboard a fishing vessel. Victim said he was not hurt or in fear and stated he only wanted the incident documented.
Criminal mischief, Nov. 2 — Hotel management reported a rental room at the UniSea Inn was "annihilated" by a patron. Under investigation.
Welfare check, Oct. 28 — Caller reported seeing unsupervised kids playing on a bridge and hanging from the rail over Iliuliuk Creek. Officer contacted the two boys who ultimately admitted to hanging off the bridge "a little bit." Officer explained the concerns about said behavior and advised them to no longer take such risks.
Assault, Nov. 1 — Caller reported she got punched in the head for no apparent reason. The complainant did not want to press charges. Investigation determined the complainant got punched because she wantonly hugged a friend of the assailant.
Drunk disturbance, Nov. 1 — Officers responded to the Grand Aleutian hotel where three "Samoans" reportedly beat up a tall white male who was described by witnesses as being rude, very racist and asking for a fight all night. Officers contacted the victim who refused to provide any information.
Suspicious activity, Nov. 1 — While conducting a bar check, officers were advised of an altercation that took place aboard a fishing vessel. Victim said he was not hurt or in fear and stated he only wanted the incident documented.
Criminal mischief, Nov. 2 — Hotel management reported a rental room at the UniSea Inn was "annihilated" by a patron. Under investigation.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Troopers charge two geoduck clam harvesters
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Craig
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 11/1/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Klawock Post, cited Eric Larson, 32, and Morris Mattson, 46, both of Petersburg, for commercial fishing for geoduck clams in closed waters. Both were issued a summons to appear in Craig District Court.
Location: Craig
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 11/1/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Klawock Post, cited Eric Larson, 32, and Morris Mattson, 46, both of Petersburg, for commercial fishing for geoduck clams in closed waters. Both were issued a summons to appear in Craig District Court.
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