Investigators link series of crimes

Palmer teens indicted on charges of burglary, vehicle theft

By JOHN DAVIDSON-Frontiersman reporter

PALMER -- A string of burglaries and thefts in Wasilla and Soldotna has been traced to a Palmer teen who was arrested last month following a routine traffic stop.

Charges keep mounting against John P. Smith, 18, in an investigation that has included Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Bureau of Investigation, the Palmer, Wasilla, Anchorage and Soldotna police departments and the state Division of Juvenile Justice.

A Palmer grand jury on Thursday indicted Smith and Brent LaFave, also 18, on charges of second-degree theft, first-degree vehicle theft and first-degree burglary, according to a trooper dispatch issued Friday.

On Aug. 25, Smith allegedly stole a 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada from a residence near Palmer. Investigation revealed Smith picked up his friend Brent LaFave and they drove to Soldotna, where they reportedly broke into a home and stole five firearms and other valuables.

On the drive back from Soldotna, Smith fell asleep at the wheel near Eagle River and ran off the road. Both Smith and LaFave were injured, but Smith fled the scene to escape from police, troopers reported.

In the vehicle, troopers found the firearms stolen from the residence in Soldotna, as well as firearms that had been reported stolen from Wasilla.

Smith sustained injuries in the crash, but managed to escape from authorities that night, according to a trooper affidavit.

Smith was arrested Sept. 19 after a routine traffic stop in Palmer. Smith was found with a stolen 9mm handgun and arrested after trying to give a false name and information to Palmer Police Officer Donna Anthony.

Police traced the handgun to a burglary and subsequent kidnapping of a Wasilla man that took place a week before, on Sept. 13. Smith and two accomplices allegedly broke into the home of William Fuger and waited for him to come home. They reportedly tied up Fuger at gunpoint and stole thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry from his personal safe before driving away in his 2003 Ford pickup. Smith allegedly set fire to and destroyed Fuger's truck later that night.

An investigation led troopers to issue a warrant for Smith's arrest and he was taken into custody Sept. 19 on charges of burglary, assault, kidnapping, arson, theft, criminal mischief and tampering with physical evidence. He was taken to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility, where he is currently being held in lieu of $10,000 cash-only bail.

Several days after Smith fled the scene of the crashed Oldsmobile on Aug. 25, troopers discovered five of the firearms found in the back seat had been reported stolen from a residence in Soldotna on Aug. 27. The victim of that burglary met troopers in Palmer and said the stolen firearms belonged to him.

On Sept. 16, LaFave asked to meet with troopers. During an interview, LaFave confessed that Smith picked him up in Anchorage and they went to Soldotna, broke into a house and stole the guns. LaFave said he didn't see Smith steal the Oldsmobile but suspected he stole it.

A grand jury on Thursday indicted Smith and LaFave on charges of first-degree vehicle theft, second-degree theft and first-degree burglary. Troopers subsequently arrested LaFave and took him to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility, where he is being held in lieu of $5,000 cash-only bail and a court-approved third-party custodian.

Troopers reported other leads in related cases have developed in the course of this investigation and additional charges are pending.

Contact John Davidson at john.davidson@frontiersman.com.