Armed robbers charged with stealing narcotics

PALMER — Two Wasilla men accused in a string of home-invasion-style robberies to steal the prescription drug OxyContin are due in court next week and for trial next month.

Adam Blodgett, 25, and Brandon Straight, 27, were arrested last month. Alaska State Troopers allege their crime spree began April 16, when a woman living on a road off Fairview Loop called to report she’d been robbed.

“Two men had come into her house and had stolen some property and prescription drugs, namely narcotics,” said investigator Ramin Dunford with the Alaska State Troopers.

That was the start of a pattern, Dunford said — two men, forcible entry, seeking OxyContin. In that robbery, Dunford said the suspects also made off with a Playstation, some games and about $400 cash.

The victim said one man was armed, the other wasn’t, Dunford said.

“She ID’d one of them by photo lineup and that was Brandon Straight,” Dunford said.

The next robbery came less than a month later, May 9, at a home in the neighborhood north of the Parks Highway between Trunk and Hyer roads. A man and his wife were home at the time, Dunford said.

This time both suspects were armed — one with pepper spray, the other with a handgun.

The booty? OxyContin and cash. OxyContin is listed as a time-release narcotic, used to treat moderate to severe pain. It has been illictly used as a recreational drug since it was introduced in 1996, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The third robbery came May 19 in Big Lake, Dunford said. This time, both men had handguns and were wearing masks.

“I believe they had neoprene masks on their faces, sunglasses and a hoody pullover,” he said.

They made off, again, with OxyContin and cash.

Asked how the two men knew who to rob, Dunford said, “I can’t say that these people were dealing drugs. I’m definitely not saying that; I just don’t know. … Let’s just say that associations and friends of friends. When you need drugs or when you want drugs as a person that’s addicted, you’ll find where they are, you’ll find out how to get them.”

Dunford said evidence in all three cases points to Blodgett and Straight. And there are suspicions, though little proof, that there may have been more.

“There were other home-invasion robberies, but we weren’t able to link them or they weren’t reported officially,” Dunford said.

Straight was arrested Sept. 1 on a warrant for the robberies after troopers responded to a domestic disturbance. Dunford said he found Blodgett two days later at a home in Big Lake.

“Neither of them were armed. They weren’t expecting to be found at that time,” Dunford said.

According to court records, both men face an identical list of felony charges — three counts of robbery, two of theft and four of assault. Both also face a misdemeanor theft charge. Court records show both are due in court again Oct. 27 and set for trial Nov. 10.

They were jailed at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on $10,000 bail each, Dunford said. According to jail records, Straight is still there but Blodgett was bailed out.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.