45 years for Voorhis

PALMER — A three-day standoff with troopers, including gunfire, has landed a Talkeetna man in prison for 45 years.

In the 2006 series of events, Donald Voorhis withstood tear gas, pepper bombs and a water cannon barrage, but finally threw in the towel when Alaska State Troopers used a small bulldozer to rip a wall off his trailer in a remote area off Talkeetna Spur Road.

Superior Court Judge Eric Smith sentenced Voorhis, who fired at but missed a trooper, to 52 years. Seven of those years were suspended.

If he behaves, the 51-year-old convict can be paroled after serving two-thirds of his sentence. But he was in court this week with a black eye that Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak said was the result of a scuffle with another prisoner.

In asking for a 47-year sentence, Kalytiak told Smith that everyone is happy nobody was killed or injured in the siege, but the outcome could have been much different for Trooper Nathan Bucknall, who entered the trailer in an attempt to arrest Voorhis.

“The bottom line is the defendant missed,” Kalytiak said.

The prosecutor also mentioned Voorhis’ criminal past, saying he has 49 prior charges, most in district court for less serious crimes.

“But the defendant has been there a lot, he said.

Finally, Kalytiak said a long term was warranted. “He could do this again if the court doesn’t put him away for a long time.”

Voorhis’ defense attorney, Lee DeGrazia, blamed the three-day standoff on troopers, saying they had enough prior knowledge of Voorhis that they could’ve simply waited him out.

“They did the worst they could,” she said. “He had no water, no food. But for the actions of law enforcement, we wouldn’t be here. This was a training exercise for SWAT teams all over the state.”

She asked Smith to make any sentences for the attempted murder charge, three assault charges and numerous other charges to run concurrently, meaning at the same time. She also asked for suspended time and probation.

DeGrazia said Voorhis has never been given an opportunity to get help for his mental health issues.

“Probation would be a lot more helpful than incarceration, she said. “I ask you not to do, as we all too often do, is use the Department of Corrections as a dumping ground for mental health patients.”

Voorhis spoke in his own defense, saying when the shots were fired there were no troopers in his trailer.

Before imposing the sentence, Smith noted that Voorhis offered no remorse nor admitted any responsibility for the events that happened Sept. 8-10, 2006, suggesting that Voorhis might not be a good candidate for rehabilitation.

“This was an extremely dangerous situation,” Smith said. “The troopers were dealing with somebody who scared the heck out of three people” when he pointed his rifle at neighbors prior to the standoff.

“This wasn’t a mental health issue. It was totally in his control,” Smith said, noting that troopers repeatedly told Voorhis he would not be harmed if he came out and allowed them to arrest him.

“Isolation is important,” Smith said before he handed down the sentence.

Contact T.C. Mitchell at valleylife@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.