More charges from trick-or-treat stick-up

PALMER — In terms of the number of charges and defendants, it seems the Halloween 2007 stick-up of eight trick-or-treaters in Talkeetna is the case that keeps on giving.

Monday, Alaska State Troopers announced three more people have been charged in connection with the case — Shannon Bartholomew, 28, and Justin Gregory, 37, both of Wasilla and Mathew Nusbaum, 21, of Houston.

All three are charged with one count each of hindering prosecution. Troopers say they lied to investigators pursuing the case.

In addition, troopers state in a press release that Nusbaum helped hide Kendra Butts, 19, one of two women eventually charged with robbery, while she was hiding from the law. Troopers allege Bartholomew and Gregory also concealed property reported stolen during numerous break-ins in Talkeetna. Troopers say they discovered that property during the investigation of the robbery.

Troopers eventually charged Michael Scott Wilson 25, and Aaron J. Tolen, 25, with multiple counts relating to the burglaries. The pair were the first to be arrested in the case, having shown up to a Talkeetna restaurant in the pickup the children said the robbers were driving.

Butts and Amber Martin, 21, were eventually charged with robbing the children. Both have pleaded guilty to robbery and are set to accept 11-year sentences in return.

Tolen has received a seven-year sentence for his role in the burglaries and thefts. Wilson was set to stand trial Monday in Palmer, a date pushed back to February, according to court records.

The AST press statement makes no mention of any of the three new defendants being arrested. Jail records show none are in custody.