The following is a rundown of new felony cases in the Sitka Trial Courts in the month of November. This story will be update periodically as the cases proceed through the courts, or are otherwise resolved.
The Sitka grand jury returned a number of criminal indictments over the past month. One of the defendants is being investigated for over 30 storage unit burglaries
On October 24, the grand jury indicted 42-year-old Leobardo Bojorqez-Gonzales on one count of vehicle theft in the first degree.
According to court records, the defendant unlawfully entered a vehicle parked on Lincoln St. on October 15, and drove it away. The owner, who was in a downtown business, discovered the theft and called police — and later called back to say that the vehicle was parked on Harbor Drive and occupied by someone he didn’t know, who did not have permission to use it.
Police made contact with the defendant and conducted field sobriety tests. The defendant was cited for driving under the influence. He was subsequently released on $1,000 bail, but authorities later were unable to serve him a summons following his indictment, as he was working on a fishing boat. The Superior Court subsequently issued a $500 day bench warrant for his arrest.
On November 7, the Sitka grand jury indicted 44-year old Norman K. Paul Jr. on one count of assault in the third degree, for placing another person in fear of imminent serious physical injury by means of a dangerous instrument. Paul also faces a charge of resisting arrest. He was arraigned in Superior Court on November 8.
According to court records, police received a complaint about a man lying in the path between the Hames Center and Sawmill Creek Road, shortly after 11 a.m. on October 30. An officer arrived and identified the defendant, who appeared to be heavily intoxicated, with an empty bottle of vodka beside him, and a hatchet.
The police complaint states that the defendant attempted to reach the hatchet, and subsequently engaged in a physical altercation with the officer, who placed him under arrest.
Paul remains in custody in the Sitka Jail pending $2,500 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 2 at 4:15 p.m.
(Note: The preceding case details concerning defendant Norman K. Paul, Jr. were unavailable by deadline for broadcast.)
A third defendant was indicted twice in November. The Sitka grand jury on November 14 indicted 30-year old Alex Scott Robinson on one count of vehicle theft in the first degree. A week later, the grand jury indicted Robinson on one count of theft in the first degree, one count of burglary in the first degree, and one count of criminal mischief in the fifth degree.
According to court records, police obtained a search warrant to enter Robinson’s Granite Creek home on November 6 in connection with another case. Inside, they discovered a partially dismantled 2006 Honda motorcycle registered to the summer tour operator Scooterbumz. The owner of Scooterbumz reported that the motorcycle had been stolen from his property on Smith Street. It was valued at $3,200.
While in Robinson’s home, officers also found a loaded .22 caliber derringer pistol next to the motorcycle — a concealable weapon he is not allowed to possess following a 2017 felony conviction for forgery. Additionally, officers found various drug paraphernalia, and approximately .1 gram of a substance that the defendant allegedly admitted was black tar heroin (a misdemeanor).
At a court hearing on Monday (November 25), assistant district attorney Amy Williams said that Robinson was the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation into a string of burglaries at between 36 and 39 storage units. Said Williams, “All of this seems to be motivated by controlled substances.”
Robinson is being held at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau, pending $5,000 bail, which is concurrent with all his cases. He is being represented by the Sitka Public Defender.
Update 2/21/23:
On April 24, 2020, Alex Robinson pleaded guilty to theft in the first degree, a Class B Felony. Burglary and criminal mischief charges were dismissed by the prosecution.
