A judge issued a warrant for the arrest of a 54-year-old woman accused with her husband of failing to pay city sales taxes from 2009 to 2012.
Judge Keith Levy ordered the $500 bench warrant for Virginia A. Jefferson, 54, who owns the Thane Ore House Salmon Bake alongside her husband George H. Jefferson, 50, when she did not appear in Juneau District Court for their joint arraignment Wednesday.
George Jefferson told Levy his wife has been out of the state and in California since December. Court records indicate she has not yet been served a summons informing her of when to appear in court, whereas George Jefferson was served a summons in late January.
Still, Levy granted Assistant City Attorney Robyn Carlisle’s request for the warrant, saying it’s the only way to compel her return to Juneau.
“Given the allegation that she’s left the jurisdiction, I don’t have any way of getting her here other than to issue a warrant,” Levy said.
The Jeffersons are each facing 26 charges for failing to pay city sales taxes — 13 of those counts are for failing to file and 13 are for failing to remit from July 2009 through September 2012.
City prosecutors say the couple in October 2012 owed the City and Borough of Juneau about $25,000 in unremitted sales tax, penalties and interest, an amount that continued to accrue interest and penalties at a rate of 10 percent per year.
CBJ is seeking approximately $35,600 in restitution, according to an affidavit filed by Assistant City Attorney August Petropulos.
Violating CBJ’s uniform sales tax code is a misdemeanor criminal offense punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $10,000 fine.
On Wednesday, the judge entered a not guilty plea on George Jefferson’s behalf. George Jefferson said he was planning on hiring an attorney. He is next scheduled to appear in court for a representation hearing in two weeks, and he is slated to stand trial in May.
He declined to comment for this article. He was previously released on his own recognizance, which means he did not have to post bail but still has to abide by standard conditions of release.
• Contact reporter Emily Russo Miller at 523-2263 or at emily.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (22)
Add commentThat picture - wow. I'm
That picture - wow. I'm speechless.
That's a lie
She was at the SEAHRC clinic last week.
Speechless is right!
I'm speechless because that's a lot of sales tax. What possible excuse could they have for collecting it and not remitting? And....he's not in contact with his wife? She does not know she's wanted in Juneau? I call BS on the whole situation.
Security?
Can't the city file a lien against their property to be assured payment?
Classy as ever...
Classy as ever...
Property Taxes Also
I would like to know why you never see pictures of the arraignments of any of the wealthy land owners in Juneau who are perennially on the delinquent property tax list. Year after year you see some of these guys' names as being past due on anywhere from 2 to as many as 15-20 properties but you never see their picture in the paper. I am not condoning what Mr. Jefferson has done but where are the other prosecutions? Isn't it odd who the CBJ picks and chooses to go after?
Charley:
There are procedures in place for property tax debt. If the tax isn't paid the subject property is foreclosed, then the delinquent owner has a year to redeem the debt, penalties and interest. If he or she does that, they get their property back. If not, the City sells it to recover what they are owed.
The point is that the City has some security interest in the debt. With Sales Tax, it's out and out theft from you and me, with nothing to secure it.
I'm not saying that Property Tax delinquents are saints, because they do cause a lot of work for the City. But there is a difference.
Hire an attorney?
I see that Jefferson "plans to hire an attorney".
I wonder how he's going to pay for his legal fees. Oh, wait.....with our money. Huh.
I guess a lien could help but
I guess a lien could help but he doesn't even own the property. Take that place away from him. That was once a nice little pull off now they and the neighbors just let the place go way downhill.
Tax Forgiveness
Several times I have heard from locals and read in this forum about CBJ forgiving Galligaskins, a department store that used to be at the Mendenhall Mall, for a major tax debt owed to the city. Does anyone know if this is true and if so, why???
Also, is city tax evasion rare or are these people being singled out? I does seem their are bigger fish to fry.
pleading not guilty
apparently he is going to show he paid the taxes and the municipality is wrong. Or he going to show he doesn't have to collect the tax. For I can see no other way to be not guilty.
hmmm
yeah... mmkay... milton, I'm gonna need you to go ahead and move your desk again... mmmkay? great... thanks a bunch, milton.
Just fix the glitch...
Louise
I thought George Jefferson's wife was named Weezie.
Where can I see a list of delinquent businesses?
Where can I see a list of delinquent businesses?
Right on @Dlindoff - It's so easy
to pile on. I think it comes from a variable lack of self-esteem and the inevitable sub-conscious comparisons we make of ourselves with others, especially those of notoriety, to bolster our self-worth by telling ourseves and others: "I'm SO much better than THIS person!"
In this cult-of-celebrity society, look at what happens when a celebrity becomes notorious as opposed to famous: those who formally almost worshipped them, turn on them like a pack of dogs... Same is true of your everyday citizen.
We don't know these folks' circumstances. They will answer for not paying sales tax, but where is the charity of the benefit of the doubt, when unknown personal circumstances may be in play? Chillax Killahs...
Just Dumb
36,000 dollars... Anybody that supports this business in town or any other business like that pot hole bar in Douglas is dumb... Look up the list of delinquent business and boycott them unless you enjoy being robbed while people smile at you...
Delinquent list
Hello all,
Please see the link I just posted to a PDF listing all businesses who currently owe sales tax. It's under "Related attachments."
Thank you,
Abby
Thanks Abby
Thank you Abby! Thats great that the Empire is actually following up on VALID comments! I appreciate the link very much!
I'm glad I'm not on that list
Many years ago, I took out a state business license with the intention of selling at Public Market. An injury got in the way of doing that, and I never did any business activity. The city hounded me for years wanting filings, and no amount of "I never started my business" seemed to satisfy them. I eventually had to file to state that I had zero income for them to get off my back. I didn't have a problem with doing so, they just wouldn't tell me for a long time that's what I needed to do.
squid - "The city hounded me
squid - "The city hounded me for years"?
After a few months, I would have, I don't know, maybe CALLED THEM and asked what I needed to do?
Oh Well..
I got sent an email saying my opinion was flagged for offensive. I apologize to the family and George's wife for saying she was rude. Still feel bad about this great restaurant, had real good food.
I apologize
I too got an email saying my comments were offensive...I was defending them. I apologize if the family was upset. I was simply trying to point out that everyone has struggles in their life.
Funny how people can make fun of people and how they look and what they wear and how they talk, but if you try to defend someone and explain their struggles, then you get marked as offensive!
Oh well - I guess only the mean comments can survive on this website!
Have fun making fun of people Juneau bloggers! I am done trying to protect people.