Burglary bust: 2 more charged

PALMER — Court officials added two new co-defendants to a burglary case involving four people and almost 50 counts of burglary, theft, weapons misconduct and fraud.

Authorities had originally charged Timothy Wayne Taylor Jr., 35, and Linda Friend, 31, of Wasilla in connection with the theft of more than 100 objects in seven burglaries and 28 counts of theft.

A grand jury added Andrew J. Mahoney, 35, and Halee R. Hayes, 33, in a grand jury indictment filed Friday.

Alaska State Troopers, and agents with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, as well as inspectors with the U.S. Postal Service, were involved in the investigation. Among the items taken: numerous skulls — including bear, alligator, and human skulls — and antlers; at least 20 firearms; and mail belonging to more than 100 people, according to court documents.

Authorities say they have not ruled out the possibility of federal charges, pending the completion of the investigation.

When one of the victims offered money in exchange for information about the crimes, an anonymous tipster told him that Taylor, who has a lip-shaped tattoo on the right side of his neck, had sold a walrus-bone cribbage board with an eagle carved in it to an Eagle River antiques shop for $75. Additional investigation turned up more stolen stuff linked back to Taylor.

The four were arraigned in front of presiding Superior Court Judge Vanessa White Monday morning. While bail hearings for all four accused were not immediately held, Mahoney received a $7,500 cash bail with court-appointed third-party custodial requirements, and Friend received a $5,000 cash bail with custodial requirements. Other bails could not immediately be ascertained, given an outage of the state court systems records.

Taylor worked as a salesman for Natural Express, a company owned by Harding Ranch Meats, which has received an F-rating from the regional Better Business Bureau, according to Alaska State Troopers. At least one of the victims was a customer.

Mahoney and Wayne remained in Mat-Su Pretrial May 11. Friend remained in Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River.

Hayes had been released on her own recognizance.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.