COURT REPORT: Aug. 19, 2017

Store employee charged with improperly touching 14-year-old girl

WASILLA — A 55-year-old Wasilla man remains free on $10,000 bail after being charged with third-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

According to an Aug. 14 police affidavit filed in Palmer District Court, Craig E. Widner, an employee at Fred Meyer in Wasilla, improperly and sexually touched a 14-year-old female in the store’s cosmetic section after he clocked out of work just after 3 p.m. on Aug. 8. Police state video surveillance footage confirmed that after clocking out of work, Widner was located in the location of the alleged offense and also confirmed the inappropriate touching.

Interviewed by Wasilla Police investigators, the affidavit states Widner admitted to the allegations. The affidavit said the victim was able to quickly confirm Widner’s identity in a police lineup. Further, the victim—who contacted police shortly after the alleged incident, said she was shocked and didn’t know what to do after the incident and that she has been having nightmares and difficulty sleeping since the encounter.

Widner is scheduled to be arraigned on the Class C felony in Palmer on Aug. 29.

Man accused of burglary spree in Big Lake

BIG LAKE — A 27-year-old Wasilla man is expected to be arraigned Monday on multi-felony counts stemming from an Aug. 10 incident in Big Lake.

According to an affidavit filed Aug. 11, Casey A. Marre admitted to Alaska State Troopers (AST) that he stole a two-ton service truck, stole and hid approximately $30,000 in assorted tools, broke into a Big Lake bed and breakfast and stole a firearm.

The affidavit states the trooper located the stolen truck around four hours after it was reported stolen the evening of Aug. 10. Police say Marre was behind the wheel of the parked truck at the time contact was made. Troopers observed tire tracks leading from the vehicle to a nearby tree line and after investigation, discovered the assorted tools hidden in multiple spots and covered with dead branches and leaves.

Police contacted the truck’s owner who arrived on-scene to verify ownership and reclaim the tools. He also told troopers there was a rifle, valued at $2,300 inside the truck and gave consent to a police search. No rifle was found but during a “pat-down” prior to placing him in the patrol car, troopers found an “official” looking set of keys which Marre initially said he had no knowledge of. The affidavit said Marre later stated the keys were to a bed and breakfast.

According to the affidavit, while still at the scene of the recovered vehicle, MATCOM dispatch aired a reported burglary at the same B&B facility. While moving Marre to a patrol car, troopers stated the suspect admitted to the stealing the truck and tools, breaking into the B&B, and storing the rifle near a shed at the facility. The rifle was recovered and police say the B&B front door was open with no forced entry.

Marre is charged with felony counts of first-degree theft, first-degree vehicle theft, first and second-degree burglary and a Class B misdemeanor charge of second-degree criminal trespass. He was taken to Mat-Su Pretrial where bail was set at $2,500 cash/corporate and a court-appointed third party.

— Compiled by Chris Ford