He was heavily intoxicated -- three hours later, his blood alcohol level measured more than twice the legal limit for driving -- and witnesses described him tailgating and recklessly passing other vehicles before his truck hydroplaned and went out of control, according to the appeals court opinion. He said his client takes full accountability for the crime and has proved his remorse to his family. Drunk driver who killed two teenagers in 2013 resentenced in Anchorage court. }, See also: City elections in Anchorage, Alaska (2022). The original presiding judge, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Kevin Saxby, seen as displaying retribution, is ordered not to play a role in Graham's re-sentencing. Former U.S. Army specialist sentenced for death of infant child Graham, driving home from a company golf tournament and then a friends house, lost control of his truck where Dimond Boulevard curves into Abbott Road near the Independence Park neighborhood. For chambers contact information, please visit the Contacts Page. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Press Release - Anchorage Resident Ibarra Sentenced to 13 Years For .race_header.republican { He was also linked to other crimes leading up to the November 2016 murder. .inner_percentage.Libertarian { } .inner_percentage { top: 1px; Online court records show Thomas is now scheduled for sentencing March 9 in Anchorage. color: white; } color: #fff; max-width: 75px; .percentage_number { .votebox_bp_logo { Allen was sentenced for robberies that took place in 2019 and 2020 between Anchorage, Chugiak, Eagle River, and Palmer. Judge Kevin Saxby and members of the media watch a slideshow of Jordyn Durr on Friday, February 6, 2015 in an Anchorage courtroom. } margin-top: 1px; But there is no verified reason to believe that imposing such a sentence on Graham has achieved, or will achieve, the societal goal of preventing drunk-driving homicide, or that it will even significantly reduce the incidence of this crime.. This adds up to a total range of between 26 years and 40 years. Duke turned 20 shortly after the Alaska Supreme Court ruled the case would remain in the juvenile system. The ruling, particularly the decision to remove the judge, marks a striking turn in one of the most high-profile cases involving a drunken driver in recent Alaska history. } .votebox-results-cell--check { In the end, the judge made a small change, removing just two years from the original sentence so that Graham now has 30 years to serve. } } z-index:1; font-size: .9em; ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Stacey Graham pled guilty at his first sentencing in 2015 as part of a plea deal where he acknowledged driving drunk in August of 2013, losing control of his truck, striking and killing 15-year-olds Jordyn Durr and Brooke McPheters as they walked on the sidewalk after shopping at the Dimond Center. Press Release - Maximum sentence for man convicted of attacking Stacey Allen Graham cries as he watches a slideshow of 15-year-old best friends Jordyn Durr and Brooke McPheters on Friday, February 6, 2015 in an Anchorage courtroom. But the sentencing judge displayed little patience for this objection -- and he then issued a ruling that was based on a misreading of the statute, Mannheimer wrote. Jordyn and her best friend Brooke McPheters, also 15 years. height: 22px; $('.pastResponses').show(); width: 50%; width: 100%; width: 100%; Grossman v. State, Court of Appeals No. A-12170 height: 40px; During the beginning of his time at the facility, he stole from another resident, planned a potentially violent escape and scrawled profanities on the wall of his cell using his own blood, according to the opinion. At sentencing, Judge Saxby described the numerous armed robberies as extremely dangerous conduct that put innocent members of the community at risk. width: 35px !important; display: block; BEIER v. STATE (2018) | FindLaw Assistant Attorney General Dan Shorey argued to keep the sentence the same. This page was last updated during the official's most recent election or appointment. display: inline-block; .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;} During sentencing in 2015, Saxby acknowledged that Graham was remorseful and had good potential for rehabilitation, but noted his decision had to deter others and he had to be a voice against drunken-driving homicide that was especially high given a spike in deaths and even higher here, where two innocent young girls were essentially smashed to death," the opinion states. (function() { All rights reserved. This is his first retention election. text-align: center; } Bernitz said the teen went shooting with his father and there were numerous guns in the home. max-width: 400px; display: block; State and local courts | color: white; She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Tuckfield pled guilty to one count of murder in the first degree for the Sept. 9, 2008 murder in the Mountain View neighborhood of . padding-left: 0; Allen pleaded guilty to consolidated counts of first-degree robbery and consolidated counts of third . Cities | [Because of a high volume of comments requiring moderation, we are temporarily disabling comments on many of our articles so editors can focus on the coronavirus crisis and other coverage. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Alaska Superior Court Judge Kevin M. Saxby sentenced Trevon Allridge to 45 years in prison for the murder of William Schmaus back in November 2016, according to a press release from the Alaska Department of Law on Monday. padding-bottom: 8px; $('.showResponses').show(); Now an appeals court is sending his case to be re-sentenced, but not for the reason Graham originally filed the appeal. Anchorage man who killed mother, sister as a teen is free after aging .votebox-results-cell--x { Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Superior Court Judge Kevin M. Saxby sentenced 40-year-old Lloyd Allen Jenkins was sentenced to 35 years of active incarceration for the 2017 rape and assault of his girlfriend. Bernitz said he felt the decision caused further harm to Dukes father and sister. "We are disappointed in the Court of Appeals decision to send the case back for another sentencing hearing. [1] Education On Jan. 5, 2016, Shannon Duke woke up her son, Corbin, in the early morning, McKay said. This was described as "an unprecedented sentence" for the crime. For more biographical information about Judge Saxby, . The mothers of both girls on Friday declined to comment. Judge Saxby said he believed that Grahams chances of rehabilitation were good, but that sending a strong message against drunk driving was important. He won in the retention election on November 8, 2022. . The opinion states that judges deciding a drunken-driving homicide sentence need to follow criteria set in Alaska law, as well as the defendants recklessness, magnitude of the consequences of their conduct, their record of alcohol abuse, and prior sentences. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com. position: relative; Email the Webmaster, Notice Pursuant to Alaska Statute 45.50.577. overflow-y: auto; width: 100% !important; Juvenile proceedings are traditionally kept private. A-12170 (Alaska Ct. App. So the idea that we treat our children differently under the law is one that I will stand here and defend any day of the week, all day long. We treat our children differently than we treat our adults, Bernitz said. padding-top: 3px; Juvenile courts only have the ability to hold a person until they reach age 20, which was roughly four years in this case, while an adult could be sentenced up to 99 years in prison for each count of first-degree murder. Alaska Dispatch News - 7/21/2020 Jul. Alaska Judges - Alaska Court System But in April judge Kevin Saxby rejected the deal, saying the fact Thomas would be eligible for parole in 14 years "cheapens the crime." . letter-spacing: .03em; Corbin Duke then walked down the stairs and followed his older sister, 18-year-old Chloe Duke, when she headed upstairs after hearing the gunshot, McKay said. The panel ruled that Saxby cannot preside over the re-sentencing decision, according to the opinion written by Chief Judge David Mannheimer. } How this family put up with that type of emotion and what happened to it and still support him is an inspiration to everyone.. width: 90%; Corbin Duke was detained at the McLaughlin Youth Center shortly after. Following a four-week trial, Badillo was convicted of 20 counts, including three counts of kidnapping, one count . .widget-row.value-only.black { We invite you to write a letter to the editor or reach out directly if youd like to communicate with us about a particular article. color:white; Shannon Duke returned home and took a nap that afternoon with her toddler sleeping at the foot of her bed, McKay said. @media (max-width:600px) { | } $('.showResponses').hide(); PDF Superior Court Judge The three-judge panel found that key facets of Anchorage Superior Court Judge Kevin Saxbys sentencing analysis were legally mistaken, according to the opinion handed down Friday. .contact_office { font-size: 0.8 em; margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} word-wrap: break-word; The appeals panel found any drunken driver poses similar risks; Saxbys conclusion that Graham deserved an extraordinarily severe sentence to satisfy the goal of community condemnation conflicts with Alaska Supreme Court decisions saying condemnation should reaffirm societal norms but does not mean retribution and cant be used to give voice to the communitys outrage" at a defendant or particularly disturbing crime; And Saxbys conclusion that an extraordinarily severe sentence would deter others, despite little evidence that higher sentences prevent drunken driving. In 2016, Alaskas News Source spoke to Allridges mother, who said her son has struggled with mental illness for nearly a decade. } margin: 0px 10px; .key-messages li {margin-bottom: 10px;} background-color: #db0000; vertical-align: top; From the Alaska Department of Law: August 30, 2019 (Anchorage, AK) - Anchorage Superior Court Judge Kevin Saxby handed down a maximum 40-year sentence to 55-year-old Anchorage man Edward Thompson, convicted of stabbing and attempting to stab three Anchorage police officers in a Spenard parking lot. PDF Alaska Judicial Council Summary of Performance Evaluation for: Judge IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF ALASKA EDWARD JOSEPH PAGE, Appellant, Court of Appeals No. font-size: 1em; $('.collapse').collapse('show'); } Kevin Tuckfield Sentenced to 99 Years for 2008 Murder of Travis Villa Before joining the ADN in 2019, she was a reporter for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota. Judge Saxby highlighted the number of robberies, including the demands for money and merchandise at gunpoint on many separate occasions. How to run for office | font-weight: 300; Alaska Court of Appeals How to vote | Sean Parnell (R). padding-left: 0; }, 100); top: -5px; Copyright 2023 KTUU. Tess Williams is a reporter focusing on breaking news and public safety. padding-left: 8px; .widget-row.Democratic { (Loren Holmes / ADN). No. padding-bottom: 7px; .key-messages li:last-child { margin-bottom: 0px;} } } After the hearing, Duke walked out the doors of the Nesbett Courthouse and onto Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage. Please, City elections in Anchorage, Alaska (2022), https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Kevin_M._Saxby&oldid=9069477, Alaska Third District Superior Court candidate, 2022, Alaska superior court judges, Third District, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) policy, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections, Mr. "Here, the record shows that [Saxby] gave free rein to speaker after speaker who played to the judges emotions," the judges found. font-size: 1.2em; float: right; 825 W 4th Ave Anchorage AK 99501 JURY RECORDED MESSAGE (907) 278-3618 JURY CLERK (907) 264-0694 Parking Instructions Telephonic Hearings and Conference Lines Regular Business Hours Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Customer Service Closed 12 noon - 1:00 pm Monday - Friday Domestic Violence * Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday & Sunday
float:right; Police arrived at the house when Corbin Dukes father returned home and called for help after finding his daughter dead on the stairs. The two girls had reportedly been back-to-school shopping at the time Graham struck them while driving under the influence. U.S. Congress | Email the Webmaster, Notice Pursuant to Alaska Statute 45.50.577, More information about the Anchorage District Attorneys Office. } .race_header.libertarian { While the juvenile system no longer had power to impose a punishment on Duke, he did still have the right to a fair trial. | From here, the case will be sent back to the Superior Court to be re-sentenced. font-size: 12px; width: 150px; o/o civil cases . Theres many many serious crimes that children do where they should not be held to the same punishment standard as adults.. Anchorage Superior Court Judge Kevin Saxby said Monday during the first and only hearing of case to be held publicly that Duke had aged out of the system because of limitations within the. (Loren Holmes / ADN). padding-left: 10px; color: white; .non_result_row { Anchorage man sentenced to 45 years for 2016 murder, The 28th anniversary of Erin Marie Gilberts disappearance, Search continues for respected North Slope scientist who was swept under logjam, Trevon Allridge was arrested weeks before the deadly shooting. In sentencing, Judge Saxby found that the 2016 murder of William Schmaus was akin to an execution.Update on November 16, 2016:On November 15, 2016, just after 3:00 PM, Anchorage Police responded to a shooting that occurred at an auto dealership and auto shop located at the 1000 block of East 74th Avenue. As a 15 year old, his brain wasnt developed, he was at risk, he didnt understand the consequences of his actions involved in there and he also had incredible potential to grow out of this. "And [Saxbys] sentencing remarks suggest that retribution was indeed one of the judges motivations for imposing an unprecedented sentence in Grahams case.". Kevin M. Saxby - Ballotpedia background-color: green; font-size: 12px; } In August 2020, Allridge pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and unrelated felonies including failure to stop, and assault. Allen pleaded guilty to consolidated counts of first-degree robbery and consolidated counts of third-degree assault in the Anchorage case. William Morse: 907-264-0425; Paul Olson: 907-264-0772; Frank Pfiffner: 907-264-0401; Mark Rindner: 907-264-0412; Kevin Saxby: 907-264-0722; Jack Smith: 907-264-0831 . In a Facebook post, Sherry Miller pleaded with friends to again support their calls for a stiffer sentence . [2][3], .votebox { Prior reporting by Alaskas News Source shows that Trevon Allridge was arrested weeks before the deadly shooting for ramming three police cars and hitting three civilian vehicles while trying to evade police. Although the Supreme Court took up the case on an emergency basis because so much time had already passed, McKay said the opinion was not issued until January of 2020. 2023 Anchorage Daily News. At Gray, our journalists report, write, edit and produce the news content that informs the communities we serve. By 2015, when Grahams unprecedented sentence was handed down, the number jumped to 3,161 -- a 30 percent increase. They found four legal errors in the judges decisions: Saxbys use of a 20- to 30-year benchmark sentencing range for first felony offenders of second-degree murder arising from a vehicular homicide due to his misinterpretation of an appeals decision of the sentence of an Anchorage man who killed another driver while fleeing police in a stolen truck; Saxbys conclusion that Grahams crimes were aggravated because his drunken driving endangered three or more people based on witness reports of his erratic driving before he hit the girls. font-weight: 100; Following his arrest in the death of Schmaus, multiple law enforcement agencies started to review allegations that Allridge was improperly released from jail weeks before the murder. Court:COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF ALASKA Date published: Jul 8, 2020 CitationsCopy Citation Court of Appeals No. Duke was only a few months shy of 16 when the shooting occurred, Bernitz said. margin-bottom: 4px; .race_header { } Graham pleaded guilty to the crime -- two counts of Murder 2 -- in 2014, and was sentenced to serve over 30 years for their deaths. The teen also told investigators he woke up doing it and didnt remember harming his family, according to the opinion. The case was then deferred to the state Supreme Court, which eventually handed it back to Judge Saxby in juvenile court. line-height: 1.5em; Press Release - Sephan Allen Sentenced to 21 Years for String of Armed .widget-img { .race_header.green { He took the keys to his familys truck and began driving to their cabin in Big Lake with his sister. Sephan Allen Sentenced to 21 Years for String of Armed Robberies An Alaska appeals court has thrown out the unprecedented 32-year prison sentence for a DUI driver who killed two teenage girls walking on a South Anchorage bike path in 2013. font-weight: bold; } By Alaska Department of Law on Sep 2, 2019 Comments Off. First, the state pushed to have Duke tried as an adult. if (typeof $ != 'undefined') { letter-spacing: .04em; .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } Assistant Attorney General, Alaska Attorney General's Office . He said Trevon just shot my mechanic in the head, Shellene Allridge said. background-color: #6db24f; }) color: #fff; His current term ends in 2029. $('.collapse').collapse('hide'); Alaska state law rules that certain crimes, like murder, are automatically waived into adult court if the offender is 16 years old. .votebox_legend .non_result_row { color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; 21 --A young Anchorage man who fatally shot his mother and sister more than four years ago admitted to the crimes Monday, but will not be sentenced to any additional punishment because he has now aged out of the juvenile justice system after turning 20 in March. position: relative; vertical-align: top; margin-bottom: 0; Graham will still have to serve at least 20 years before he will become eligible for parole. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h3.votebox-header-office-name { Anchorage 20-year-old who killed his mother and sister in 2016 goes left: 0px; font-size: 0.9em; float: left; background-color: #f9d334; We are currently evaluating our legal options moving forward.. } Judge, or Other Info: . Alaska District Court, Courts in Alaska Alaska judicial elections Judicial selection in Alaska, What's on my ballot? Corbin Duke woke and did his chores that morning while his mother ran errands with his 3-year-old sister. } (Loren Holmes / ADN), The judges also found that Saxbys decision appears to have been influenced by the principle of retribution something that Alaska law does not allow.. padding-bottom: 3px; color: black; margin-right: 10px; } background-color: white; Allridge pled guilty in August 2020 to one count of murder in the second degree and to two other felony counts for an unrelated 2016 failure to stop in the first . Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 8:00 AM. In a courtroom packed with observers including the girls families, Saxby in February 2015 sentenced Graham to two consecutive 20-year sentences, each with four years suspended, saying he believed that was the longest in Alaskas history for conduct of this type. Federal courts | All rights reserved. .results_row.winner { from the University of Wyoming, College of Law. At sentencing, Judge Saxby declared that he intended to give voice to the outrage of the community by "imposing a sentence of unprecedented severity.". He was found to be intoxicated at the time. .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { }. display: table;
. Drunk driver who killed two teenagers in 2013 resentenced in Anchorage He noted that a lengthy period of incarceration was necessary to protect the public given the seriousness of the conduct. } font-weight: bold; .non_result_row th { Anchorage Police Department Officers found one male deceased. Those speakers were characterized as "an hours-long drumbeat of grief and outrage," which they state resulted in emotional pressures. } } Olson stood in a courtroom that morning asking Anchorage Superior Court Judge Kevin Saxby to sentence Asad Nur to 25 to 35 years in prison, while the defense attorney asked for a shorter sentence . .results_table { color: #6db24f; margin: 8px auto; ALASKA COMMUNITIES LIVED IN: Anchorage . height: 22px; .hideResponses { display: none;} Kevin Mark Saxby did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey. .contact_office { margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} .results_row { During that 2016 interview, Shellene Allridge said she first heard of her sons arrest after she received a call from her ex-husband, the owner of Trejohn Auto Sales. Anchorage Superior Court in Anchorage, AK - Court Information background-color: grey; "This is a sad case, a tragic situation. .race_header.democratic { Name Court 1. .outer_percentage { In 1986 he earned his J.D. Judge Saxby handles primarily criminal cases. } Tuckfield pled guilty to one count of murder in the first degree for the September 9, 2008 murder in the Mountain View neighborhood of Anchorage. Performance Summary After conducting its performance review, the Judicial Council determined that Judge Saxby met or exceeded performance standards border-radius: 50%; } } Taku 105 - KTKU-FM. }) width: 43%; $('.hideResponses').hide(); clearInterval(nTimer); 6 . .votebox_legend { In the District of Alaska, there are three U.S. District Judges and four Senior U.S. District Judges. Anchorage man sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexual assault Judges for the District of Alaska. Elections in 2023 | Graham appealed this decision, saying the sentence was excessive. The decision meant Dukes case would continue with proceedings in the juvenile court system however, Duke turned 20 just days after the waiver hearing concluded. overflow-y: hidden; .infobox p { } He told her he offered Trevon the opportunity to work at his shop, but the first day at the work site ended in chaos. Press Release - Anchorage Man Sentenced for 2016 Murder Kevin Mark Saxby is a judge of the Alaska Third District Superior Court. .expand-all:hover, .collapse-all:hover {cursor: pointer; text-decoration: underline;} } Grossman v. State Case Details Full title:WILLIAM D. GROSSMAN, Appellant, v. STATE OF ALASKA, Appellee. } } } } Court Calendars - Alaska Court System } His mother had removed him from school and he was being homeschooled. padding-left: 16px; } color: white; } The appeals court action does not resolve that question, according to the opinion. .votebox-results-metadata { clear: both; Sephan Allen sentenced to 21 years for string of armed robberies Hed been out all night and was annoyed, McKay said. Duke left the youth detention center on his birthday and the court no longer has the authority or jurisdiction to impose detention or supervised release orders. Saxby was appointed in May 2012 by Gov. Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. Other requirements like five years of probation, as well as community service work, remained the same. The father started visiting Corbin within months, maybe three months, I think, Bernitz said. The sentence you hand down today should be severe enough to scare the eleven worst drunks in Anchorage into not driving.. Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Palmer courts have expanded hours for specific cases. Colorado State University, College of Natural Resources, 1979, University of Wyoming College of Law, 1986, .infobox { .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { Editors note: This article has been corrected to accurately reflect that Dan Shorey is the Assistant Attorney General who argued about Grahams sentencing. p.survey-question {font-weight:bold;} He also pleaded to a first-degree robbery charge in the Palmer case. } .widget-key { udge Saxby said he believed that Grahams chances of rehabilitation were good, but that sending a strong message against drunk driving was important. .results_row td:first-child { In addition to the 21 years to serve, Judge Saxby suspended an additional nine years of prison time and placed Allen on probation for 10 years. The Daily News Madeline McGee contributed reporting. Instead, the appellate judges remanded the case back to Superior Court for re-sentencing -- and ordered that Saxby not preside over those proceedings. Kevin Mark Saxby is a judge of the Alaska Third District Superior Court.
The states motion was approved 15 months later, but then the case was sent to the state Court of Appeals, where it remained for another 19 months. background: #4c4c4c; }) .widget-value { Anchorage man to serve 35 years for rape, domestic violence $(".expand-all").on('click', () => { padding:7px 8px 8px; According to the Anchorage Police Department, Allridge, who was 26 at the time, was arrested on the afternoon Nov. 15, 2016, after he shot Schmaus at an auto shop on the 1000 block of East 74th Avenue. } padding-left: 10px; 2023 Anchorage Daily News. height: 50px; The 28th anniversary of Erin Marie Gilberts disappearance, Search continues for respected North Slope scientist who was swept under logjam, Previous: Anchorage man convicted of killing 2 teen girls to be re-sentenced following appeal, Related: Anchorage man convicted of killing 2 teen girls to be re-sentenced, Stay informed with breaking news and weather alerts from the Alaskas News Source apps. .results_table_container { text-align: center; div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } The original presiding judge, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Kevin Saxby, seen as displaying retribution, is ordered not to play a role in Graham's re-sentencing. For the last year, he was under the impression that people were trying to kill him, that people were after him, said Shellene Allridge in 2016, explaining what she described as extreme paranoia. Press Release - Dustin Badillo Sentenced to 127 Years in Prison A-12825 Trial Court No. background-color: #9d334; margin-right: 12px; } Schmaus was declared dead at the scene. }) } [1], Judge Saxby graduated from Lake Zurich High School in 1975 moving on to earn his B.S. .top_disclaimer { padding-bottom: 8px; The sentence for vehicular homicide is unprecedented in Alaska, the appeals judges agreed. Contact her at twilliams@adn.com. For the murder, Judge Saxby sentenced Allridge to 45 years to serve in prison with an additional 15 years suspended and 10 years probation.