Palmer duo accused of running meth house where teen OD'd

WASILLA — Two Palmer residents stand accused in federal court of operating a drug house where a teenager took the drugs that killed him.

According to a statement issued by U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler, Tod Rodolph, 40, and Jessica Hopkins, 35, face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and possession of narcotics with intent to distribute. Additionally, Rodloph was charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to federal prosecutors, on the evening of Jan. 9, the pair hosted a party in the garage of the house at 1155 North Golden Hills Drive, during which local teenagers consumed marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine. The owner of the house resides in California, according to borough property records.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 10, one of the teens — identified only as A.F. in charging documents — began “having a negative reaction to the drug(s) he had consumed,” according to the indictment filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage.

Instead of calling 911, Rodolph allegedly put A.F. into Hopkins’ car and told another unidentified teen to drive A.F. to the hospital.

According to an Alaska State Trooper online dispatch, troopers responded to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center the afternoon of Jan. 10 to investigate a report that a 17-year-old male had died there unexpectedly.

The state medical examiner's office later found A.F.’s death was “caused by the acute toxic effects of methamphetamine,” according to the indictment.

According to the press release, Rodolph and Hopkins face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, with a potential maximum of 40 years if convicted of the allegations. The feds are also asking to seize the guns and a black 2002 Cadillac Escalade if the two are convicted.

Prosecutors allege Rodolph made about 20 trips between Alaska and the Seattle area to buy heroin and meth in late 2015 and early 2016. Rodolph would then use the drugs and sell them. The two defendants participated in a conspiracy beginning in January 2015 and ending in March, according to the indictment. Other participants in the drug conspiracy are unknown, according to the indictment.

Rodolph has an April 2007 conviction for attempting to buy dangerous drugs and having drug paraphernalia in Tuscon, Arizona, and officials with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Alaska State Troopers discovered three handguns and a shotgun in the house. The DEA and troopers launched a joint investigation into the death of A.F.

Rodolph remained at Goose Creek Correctional Center Thursday. Hopkins was being held at Hiland Correctional Center in Eagle River.

An arraignment date had not yet been set for the pair, according to the release.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the date of the party, and of A.F.'s death.