Long delay expected in stabbing case

WASILLA — An investigation into an early May stabbing near Polar Bear and Schrock roads following a roadside altercation could take several months to complete, an Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman said Thursday.

Wasilla resident Josh Kelsey, 18, admitted stabbing 30-year old Justin Lemoine May 4 after claiming Lemoine attacked him. The men’s stories differ on the exact events of the incident.

While troopers aren’t giving an exact timeline of the confrontation and won’t speculate what charges may come from the investigation, AST information officer Beth Ipsen said investigations similar to this one typically take many months.

If the investigation does take that long, it leaves Kelsey and Lemoine in a state of limbo, waiting to see what charges, if any, could come down. It also leaves a neighborhood wondering which one of their neighbors is at fault in the incident.

Lemoine was stabbed in the upper left chest in front of his 5-year-old daughter after he confronted a group of teens throwing debris on the road, he said. Lemoine said he asked Kelsey and those accompanying him if they had burglarized his home a few days before. The confrontation apparently escalated from there.

Kelsey contends, however, that Lemoine accused him and other teens of the burglary, then got physical. Kelsey said he stabbed Lemoine in self-defense.

Troopers won’t comment on the details of investigations, so their findings up to this point are unclear. When troopers complete their report it will be forwarded to the Palmer District Attorney’s Office, which decides if charges will be pressed.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.