Man convicted in the David Grunwald murder case busted for contraband while in custody

PALMER — Dominic Johnson, a man convicted in the David Grunwald murder case, was recently arrested for an outstanding arrest warrant for promoting contraband and misconduct involving a controlled substance while in-custody at the Goose Creek Correctional Center.

According to a press release from Alaska Department of Law, Johnson is one of 13 people who were indicted by a Palmer grand jury for promoting contraband in the first degree Nov. 16 following 10 investigations by the Alaska Department of Corrections staff and the Alaska State Troopers at Goose Creek Correctional Center, the Mat-Su Pre-trial Facility, and the Palmer Correctional Center.

Eleven inmates and two visitors were indicted.

Those charged are: Khanesia Allen, visitor; Shayne Anselm, inmate; Shawn Bellknap, inmate; Clyde Carvalho, inmate; Dominic Johnson, inmate; Deborah Carlson-Johnson, visitor; Steve Lapitre, inmate; Brian Pinckley, inmate; Shawn Schmalzried, inmate; Orion Seal, inmate; Troy Smith, inmate; John Walls, inmate; Robert Wilde, inmate.

According to the case file, Johnson and Deborah Carl-Johnson were charged for possessing Buprenorphine, a highly addictive drug.

Charges promoting contraband in the first degree can carry a sentence up to 5 years.

According to online court documents, Johnson is one of four people sentenced for the kidnapping, assault, and murder of Palmer teen David Grunwald in 2016.

Grunwald's mother, Edie, said it doesn't appear that Johnson is attempting to change for the better during his incarnation.

"It's too bad he's still doing this kind of stuff," Edie said.

November is the month Grunwald was reported missing. Edie said the grief over their lost son never goes away.

"It's a forever thing," Edie said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com