Cops and Courts

Officer John Waldron of the Yakutat Borough Police Department looks at a print of a photograph as he testifies about a stabbing he responded to in 2018. (Screenshot)

Police who responded to, investigated killing testify

A Yakutat police officer and Alaska State Trooper testified Tuesday.

Officer John Waldron of the Yakutat Borough Police Department looks at a print of a photograph as he testifies about a stabbing he responded to in 2018. (Screenshot)
Superior Court Judge Amy Mead delivers an instruction to the jury on Jan. 13, 2021 as she presides over the trial of a man charged with killing another man in Yakutat in 2018. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Superior Court Judge Amy Mead delivers an instruction to the jury on Jan. 13, 2021 as she presides over the trial of a man charged with killing another man in Yakutat in 2018. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file 
The trial for a man accused of a 2018 stabbing death in Yakutat has began in Juneau Superior Court at Dimond Courthouse.

Jury selection begins in Yakutat killing trial

Potential jurors expressed qualms about COVID mitigation measures in place.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file 
The trial for a man accused of a 2018 stabbing death in Yakutat has began in Juneau Superior Court at Dimond Courthouse.
Jury trials at Dimond Courthouse and elsewhere are expected to occur more often and consistently in the next several months as judges seek to get trials moving once again. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Jury trials set to ramp up with new year

The Sixth Amendment gives all Americans the right to a speedy and public trial by jury.

Jury trials at Dimond Courthouse and elsewhere are expected to occur more often and consistently in the next several months as judges seek to get trials moving once again. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department, seen here on March 20, 2020, will hold a Citizen’s Police Academy beginning this October. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Police to reinstate Citizen’s Police Academy

The eight-week class was a regular event pre-pandemic.

The Juneau Police Department, seen here on March 20, 2020, will hold a Citizen’s Police Academy beginning this October. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
A Juneau man arrested in 2018 for intent to distribute was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release this week in U.S. District Court. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau man sentenced to 10 years for distribution of drugs

His 2018 arrest turned up drugs, guns, and thousands in cash.

A Juneau man arrested in 2018 for intent to distribute was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release this week in U.S. District Court. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A former Juneau chiropractor who was indicted for multiple sexual assault charges in April was charged with more assaults in early June. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Former chiropractor faces additional sexual assault charges

The former Juneau resident was indicted for five more felony charges early in June.

A former Juneau chiropractor who was indicted for multiple sexual assault charges in April was charged with more assaults in early June. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A man was found guilty of multiple charges of sexual abuse of a minor by a Juneau jury on June 10, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Man found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor

It was the first felony trial since the easing of the court’s pandemic measures.

A man was found guilty of multiple charges of sexual abuse of a minor by a Juneau jury on June 10, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
This July 26, 2017 file photo shows the Emerald Princess cruise ship docked in Juneau, Alaska. Kenneth Manzanares, charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife Kristy while aboard the ship on a cruise to Alaska, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Juneau Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. Kristy Manzanares was found dead in a cabin last month on the ship while it was in U.S. waters off Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Man sentenced to 30 years for cruise ship murder

The brutality of the crime was cited as reason for the stiff sentence.

This July 26, 2017 file photo shows the Emerald Princess cruise ship docked in Juneau, Alaska. Kenneth Manzanares, charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife Kristy while aboard the ship on a cruise to Alaska, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Juneau Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. Kristy Manzanares was found dead in a cabin last month on the ship while it was in U.S. waters off Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
A Utah man who pleaded guilty to killing his wife is being sentenced in United States District Court at the Hurff A. Saunders Federal Building, seen here on June 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Man charged for cruise ship killing to be sentenced soon

Suspect pleaded guilty to killing his wife aboard ship in 2017.

A Utah man who pleaded guilty to killing his wife is being sentenced in United States District Court at the Hurff A. Saunders Federal Building, seen here on June 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A man charged with assault at Fred Meyer on Jun. 1, 2020 was acquitted after a trial last week at the Dimond Courthouse, shown here on Oct. 20, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A man charged with assault at Fred Meyer on Jun. 1, 2020 was acquitted after a trial last week at the Dimond Courthouse, shown here on Oct. 20, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

State court system offline after cybersecurity incident

No ransom message received.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
Teaser

Juneau man indicted on charge of sexual assault

Authorities seek information about his location.

Teaser
A man was indicted by a Juneau grand jury on April 8 for multiple sexual assault alleged to have occurred in Juneau from 2016 to 2020 in Juneau. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A man was indicted by a Juneau grand jury on April 8 for multiple sexual assault alleged to have occurred in Juneau from 2016 to 2020 in Juneau. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
In this image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, and former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin address Judge Peter Cahill at the courthouse in Minneapolis during Chauvin’s trial in the death of George Floyd. (Court TV / Pool)

Ex-cop guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd case

By Amy Forliti, Stephen Groves and Tammy Webber Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS — Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder and manslaughter… Continue reading

In this image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, and former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin address Judge Peter Cahill at the courthouse in Minneapolis during Chauvin’s trial in the death of George Floyd. (Court TV / Pool)
A Juneau man was indicted at the beginning of April for two charges of sexual abuse of a minor, according to an Alaska Department of Law news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau man indicted on sexual abuse of a minor charges

The maximum penalty if convicted is 99 years imprisonment.

A Juneau man was indicted at the beginning of April for two charges of sexual abuse of a minor, according to an Alaska Department of Law news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Juneau Police Department are seeking Brenda Jay Gallant, 40, after she was indicted recently for her alleged role in a 2021 vehicle arson. (Courtesy photo / JPD)

Police seeking woman indicted for arson

The indictment for the August fire came this March.

The Juneau Police Department are seeking Brenda Jay Gallant, 40, after she was indicted recently for her alleged role in a 2021 vehicle arson. (Courtesy photo / JPD)
Two women were indicted Thursday for the arson of vehicle near Skater’s Cabin that occurred on Aug. 5, 2020. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)
Two women were indicted Thursday for the arson of vehicle near Skater’s Cabin that occurred on Aug. 5, 2020. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)
A phone screen displays a message warning of a potential spam call. Juneau Police Department warns residents to be aware of a scam involving someone claiming to be with Social Security Administration. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Police warn of phone phishing scam

Scammers are posing as members of the Social Security Administration.

A phone screen displays a message warning of a potential spam call. Juneau Police Department warns residents to be aware of a scam involving someone claiming to be with Social Security Administration. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Former DHS employee Bert Christopher Heitstuman was arrested in Anchorage Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 for multiple counts of sexual assault. (Courtesy photo / Department of Law)
Former DHS employee Bert Christopher Heitstuman was arrested in Anchorage Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 for multiple counts of sexual assault. (Courtesy photo / Department of Law)