Brandon C. Cook is seen in this undated photo. (Courtesy of Brandon C. Cook’s family and friends)

Brandon C. Cook is seen in this undated photo. (Courtesy of Brandon C. Cook’s family and friends)

Man convicted of 2015 murder to be sentenced this week

Sentencing for Christopher Strawn has been delayed due to court-ordered psychological evaluation

  • By Alex McCarthy Juneau Empire
  • Tuesday, June 19, 2018 11:45am
  • NewsLocal News

It’s been eight months since a jury found Christopher Strawn guilty of the 2015 murder of Brandon Cook. This Wednesday, Strawn will be sentenced.

Sentencing was initially scheduled to take place in February, but has been pushed back multiple times due to Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg’s instruction to have a psychological evaluation done of Strawn.

In a court order dated Feb. 8, Pallenberg wrote that the psychological evaluation needed to be done for two reasons. First, that Strawn had reported during a different prison stay 10 years ago that he was being treated for a mental health disorder. Secondly, Pallenberg wrote, there was not a clear motive in the 2015 murder, which makes it difficult to determine how much of a danger Strawn could pose the community in the future.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Juneau Dr. John Kesselring performed the psychological evaluation recently, according to court records, and Strawn’s sentencing hearing will be 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Juneau Courthouse.

According to Assistant District Attorney Amy Paige’s sentencing memorandum, she is requesting a total sentence of 84 years for the 34-year-old Strawn. She proposed that Strawn serve 80 years for the charge of first-degree murder with an additional four years for the charge of third-degree assault. The assault charge, Paige wrote, stems from Strawn putting the sole witness in the case, Tiffany Johnson, in fear for her life.

Paige repeatedly stated in the sentencing memorandum that one major reason for demanding a harsh sentence for Strawn is that he has not shown remorse or a desire to rehabilitate. She pointed to an instance in 2008 when Strawn was serving time for a vehicle theft conviction and turned down a chance at probation and decided to serve the remainder of his sentence in prison.

This decision, Paige wrote, is one example of Strawn not wanting to commit to rehabilitation. She also pointed out that throughout the trial and even after his conviction, Strawn has not admitted guilt.

“If accepting responsibility is the first step in rehabilitating oneself, the defendant has staunchly refused to do so, making his prospects for rehabilitation guarded at best,” Paige wrote.

Strawn represented himself in the trial, which took place in October. He maintained his innocence, arguing that he had no reason to kill Cook and claiming that he was asleep at home when the murder took place. Johnson’s testimony directly contradicted that, as she recounted that night and stated she was in the room as Strawn shot and killed Cook.

Cook, who was 30 at the time of his death on Oct. 20, 2015, worked at Juneau’s Safeway grocery store and at the Alaska Airlines ramp at the Juneau International Airport. He had lived in Juneau for nearly 10 years after moving up from Oklahoma to be with his girlfriend at the time.

Cook’s family is expected to be at the sentencing Wednesday, planning on flying up from their home in Wewoka, Oklahoma.


• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at 523-2271 or amccarthy@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of March 16

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

A plane flies over the town after taking off from the dirt runway on Sept. 14, 2019, in Kivalina. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Possible Postal Service changes present challenge to Alaska Bypass Mail

Rural communities depend on service for food shipments.

The exterior of the Governor’s House on Wednesday, with Nov. 20, 2024, with decorations in place for the holiday season. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Turning Governor’s House into a short-term rental proposed by Alaska lawmaker

Republican House member says intent is fiscal responsibility, not a slight of often-absent GOP governor.

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium’s Vintage Park Campus on its opening day of Dec. 19, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
SEARHC starts up new online portal for patients

Starting later this month, SEARHC patients will be able to schedule appointments,… Continue reading

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Alaska) chats with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) before her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on March 18, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Murkowski embraces many of Trump’s goals, but questions his methods

Senator addresses flood concerns, federal firings, Medicaid worries in annual speech to Legislature.

This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new downtown development project. (City and Borough of Juneau)
Aak’w Landing private cruise ship dock advances to full Assembly for possible April vote

Modifications to proposed agreement include ship size limit, Coast Guard’s OK due to icebreaker.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, March 16, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A map of Alaska shows the three Social Security Administration field offices in Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks. (Google Maps)
Update: Social Security to cut phone support, forces Alaskans online or to Juneau, Anchorage or Fairbanks

New policy announced Tuesday takes effect March 31; 60,000 rural Alaskans lack broadband.

Rep. Jeremy Bynum, R-Ketchikan, speaks Feb. 21, 2025, on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska legislators ask feds to reinstate program that sent money to rural schools

The Alaska House of Representatives is asking Congress to fix a problem… Continue reading

Most Read