Gunshots lead to arrest in Houston

PALMER -- A Houston man faces felony weapon and drug charges as the result of Alaska State Troopers' response to complaints of gunshots and yelling at his residence.

Darin Jeffry Hotrum, 37, is charged with second-degree misconduct involving weapons and two counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.

He was lodged at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on $35,000 cash-only bail. On Tuesday, District Court Judge Bill Estelle denied Hotrum's request to be released on his own recognizance.

Troopers were greeted by very loud music coming from 2338 Pick-A-Dilley St. when they arrived at 11 p.m. on Oct. 3 to investigate a neighbor's complaint. A trooper called out several times for anyone at the residence to come to the door but there was no response, according to charging documents.

Two more troopers arrived at 11:35 p.m. and, at that time, a door to the house was wide open, charging documents said.

Troopers found Hotrum asleep on a bed in the living room with his shoes on and a blanket pulled over his head, according to charging documents, and one of the troopers turned the stereo off and yelled twice at Hotrum before he awoke.

"Trooper Wegrzyn and Trooper Hall found a gun lying on the couch next to the bed," the document stated. "Trooper Wegrzyn pulled a 15-round magazine out of the gun. The magazine contained nine live rounds."

The gun was a Taurus 9-mm handgun.

While in the house, troopers found a suspected marijuana growing operation consisting of 43 plants. The two drug charges filed against Hotrum are for manufacturing with intent to distribute and for possessing 25 or more marijuana plants. Both are class C felonies, which call for up to five years in prison and $50,000 fine.

The weapons charge is a class B felony. It carries a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in prison and $100,000 fine.

Hotrum is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 24 for a pre-indictment hearing.