Cordova man gets jail in reckless boating case

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cordova
Type: Conviction — bench trial
On 6/27/14 Rodger Lee Koechling, 74, of Cordova, was convicted after a three-day bench trial of reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and reckless operation of a marine vessel. This case stemmed from an event on the Eyak River where Koechling used his 30-foot commercial bowpicker to recklessly scare and intimidate four other individuals (one 8 years old) who were fishing from a 15-foot skiff. Koechling was given 700 days in jail with 649 days suspended. The judge expressly related that this case was not about sportfishing versus commercial, but community condemnation and deterrence, and that this behavior presented a significant and exceptional risk to the occupants of the other vessel.