Palmer court roundup: Upcoming criminal court hearings

Numerous major criminal court hearings for Mat-Su Valley-based defendants are coming up.

Duyvu Nguyen

Duyvu Nguyen, 46, was found guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree murder for killing Tuan Nguyen during a hearing held at the Palmer Courthouse May 5, 2023.

At trial, evidence showed that Duyvu Nguyen had knowledge of an affair between Tuan Nguyen and his wife, Xualan Tran. Duyvu Nguyen drove out to the Mat-Su region from Anchorage looking for Tuan before entering his apartment and shooting him three times in the head Oct. 30, 2017.

Following a nearly two-week trial, the jury rejected claims of self-defense.

Duyvu Nguyen and Tuan Nguyen have no familial relation.

Palmer Assistant District Attorney Josh Traini remarked, “We are grateful the jury carefully considered the evidence and held Mr. Duyvu Nguyen accountable. Further, after nearly six-years, the family is able to have some measure of closure.”

Nguyen’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct.19, 2023 at the Palmer Courthouse at 9 a.m. with Judge Woodman presiding.

Tucker Edward

Wasilla Police charged 26-year-old Tucker J Edward of Wasilla with three counts of second-degree sexual assault for penetration of an incapacitated victim Jan. 9, 2021.

Edward was arrested after sexual assaults were reported to WPD officers on Dec. 30, 2020. WPD was informed of a string of sexual assaults over multiple years and continued the investigation Jan. 2, 2021.

“She locked the gate with a padlock at night, but Tucker continued to climb over the gate and try to violate her,” investigators wrote.

WPD was informed of sexual assaults that Edward had allegedly committed on an unconscious person, including three separate assaults over nearly 20 months. According to the affidavit, Edward was not prevented by the installation of a wooden gate and continued to assault a non-consenting, unconscious person. Additionally, WPD was provided with video evidence of a sexual assault and verbal confirmation from Edward that he had committed sexual assault. Following the initial report, WPD was granted a ‘glass warrant’ to record a conversation Jan. 7, 2021, where Edward admitted to committing rape on two separate occasions.

“Because I raped you,” Edward said during the call.

Edward has a pre-trial conference scheduled for Nov. 11 and his scheduled trial week is set to start Sept. 4 at the Palmer Courthouse with Judge Stohler presiding.

Malachi Maxon

Malachi Maxon was charged with nine felonies following the murder of four family members in December 2020.

According to online court documents, Maxon has 21 charges, including numerous Murder 1 and Murder 2 charges, burglary, assault, and vehicle theft.

According to the affidavit from the Alaska State Troopers, Maxon was related to all four people he shot and killed.

Troopers discovered Maxon’s cousin 18-year-old Cody Roehl, of Wasilla, injured from gunshot wounds from a stolen Glock pistol Maxon had taken from the residence. Roehl was transported to the hospital and later died from the gunshot wound.

Maxon shot his aunt, 43-year-old Kimora Buster in the basement of the house and also fired upon three children, ultimately killing two of them. Upon arrival, Kimora and 7-year-old Ellison Buster were found dead. Maxon also shot 10-year-old Sienna Buster, who was transported to the hospital and later died from the gunshot wound. Another child, who was in the bed, was uninjured.

When Maxon was arrested by Anchorage police officers and Wasilla police, he attempted to pull at an officer’s firearm while being transported.

Maxon’s next court appearance is a status hearing set for Oct. 27, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. at the Palmer Courthouse with Judge Cagle presiding.

Adam Drew

Big Lake resident Adam Drew, 24, was arraigned for murder charges May 8, 2019.

Drew is facing six charges including murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, and kidnapping related to the disappearance of Dolly Hampton, whose remains were discovered in a remote location in Big Lake on April 3, according to the Alaska State Troopers.

Drew was indicted by the Palmer Grand Jury on May 5, alleging that he kidnapped and killed Hampton last year, according to AST dispatch records. AST began investigating December 6, 2018, after Hampton’s family reported her missing.

On April 3, 2019, Hampton’s body was discovered in a remote area in Big Lake but exposure to the elements made identification difficult and the remains were sent to the State Medical Examiner’s office, according to AST dispatch records. Hampton’s remains were eventually identified and Drew was charged with her kidnapping and murder.

Troopers connected Drew to a burglary on New Year’s Eve 2018, where he allegedly was confronted by the victims and assaulted them, fleeing out of a second story window. He violated his probation for a 2015 burglary on Jan. 3 and was arrested, according to AST dispatch records.

Drew’s next court appearance is a pre-trial conference set for Oct. 11, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. at the Palmer Courthouse with Judge Kristiansen presiding. His scheduled trial week is set to start Oct. 30 at 8:30 a.m.

Jeremy Ayay

Jeremy Ayay, 26 is facing several felony sex offenses involving a minor under 16 years old, including sexual abuse of A minor in the first degree and exploitation of a minor to “make porn,” according to court documents. He’s also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Ayay’s sentencing hearing is set for October 3, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. at the Palmer Courthouse with Judge Stohler presiding.

Sullivan Christiansen

A Palmer jury convicted Gavin Sullivan Christiansen of murder in the second degree, manslaughter, and misconduct involving weapons in the second degree, and other charges, related to a vehicle chase after a hit-and-run during a hearing held March 15, 2023.

Christiansen contacted 911 to report that his vehicle had been struck in a hit-and-run and he was pursuing the person who hit his vehicle near Mile 37 of Wasilla-Fishook Road in Willow Oct. 11, 2020.

According to a press release from the Alaska Department of Law, Christiansen was outside of his vehicle when his car was struck and he shot at the departing vehicle about 15 times before pursuing the vehicle driven by Devin Moorhouse.

The chase lasted for roughly five miles before Moorhouse lost control of his vehicle and went off the road, leaving Moorhouse and his juvenile passenger in a ditch.

While on the phone with MATCOM dispatch, Christiansen drove up to Moorhouse’s driver’s side window and announced, “I am about to shoot somebody” and then fired several shots into Moorhouse’s vehicle and killed him. The juvenile passenger was not injured..

Christiansen told investigators that Moorhouse had pointed a firearm at him as Christiansen approached the stranded vehicle. Moorhouse’s gun was found at the scene, but investigation revealed that it was not loaded.

When Christiansen’s defense attorney argued that his client’s actions were in self-defense, Palmer Assistant District Attorney Kerry Corliss said, “Alaska has a stand your ground self-defense law, but it is stand your ground, not chase them down.”

Christiansen’s sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 1, 2024 at 1 p.m. at the Palmer Courthouse with Judge Kristiansen presiding.

To learn more information on upcoming criminal court cases relevant to the Mat-Su Valley, watch for the next Palmer Court Roundup article.

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