A 27-year-old Juneau arsonist will spend three years in jail for setting his father’s garage on fire two days before Christmas 2015 and for stealing thousands from his father’s company.
Jack Coogan pleaded guilty to second-degree arson, a class B felony, and first-degree theft, a class B felony, and he was sentenced in October. The sentence was revealed in court filings Thursday. Coogan will also be required to pay restitution after stealing about $123,000 from Coogan Construction via a stolen checkbook.
Coogan’s father, Wayne Coogan, is the owner of Coogan Construction Company.
“I had previously done things similar to my parents, which was taking checks from their company without permission and cashing them,” Jack Coogan told a Juneau Police Department detective, according to charging documents. “The past reaction I found from my parents was mercy. So I took advantage of the mercy from the past.”
Multiple forgery charges and a burglary charge were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Other recent court judgments
• A 20-year-old Juneau man will spend five years in jail after pleading guilty to second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and second-degree theft. Devon Anthony Rivera was sentenced on both crimes in early October. The sentencing report was released Thursday. Rivera has an extensive history of petty theft and police run-ins since he turned 18. According to prosecutors, he was the culprit in a May 2015 burglary. In October 2015, he allegedly had sex with someone who was between 13 and 15 years old, leading to the sexual abuse charges.
Second-degree burglary and third-degree sexual abuse of a minor charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal. Rivera must register as a sex offender for 15 years after his release from prison.
• A man who broke into Tracy’s Crab Shack on the last day of July has been sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary, a Class C felony. Gallo was sentenced Dec. 6 in Juneau Superior Court; charges of fourth-degree theft and third-degree criminal mischief were dismissed.
Gallo, who is homeless, will also be required to pay restitution to Tracy’s Crab Shack. According to a police affidavit, Gallo caused more than $1,000 damage to the restaurant after he used bolt cutters to open the front door, but he only walked away with $40 worth of alcohol and $35 in coins.
• A 21-year-old Juneau man will spend two years in jail after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary, a class C felony, related to an October 2016 break-in. Matthew Richey was sentenced in November, according to court records.
• State attorneys have reached a plea deal in the case of Charles Hatfield, who was accused in July of receiving seven years of Permanent Fund Dividends without meeting the requirements for the dividend. Hatfield pleaded guilty of one misdemeanor count of unsworn falsification and will be required to repay the state $9,494. He also must perform 48 hours of community service.
