Suspected burglary accomplices arrested

PALMER -- A Palmer teen arrested last month for burglary, kidnapping, arson and other charges had two accomplices during the robbery of a Wasilla man, Alaska State Troopers reported Monday.

John P. Smith, 18, allegedly broke into the home of William Fuger of Wasilla on Sept. 13. Troopers said there were two others with Smith that night, Kasey Malay, 18, and Yancee McDaniel, 19.

The three allegedly waited for Fuger to come home and, after a brief struggle, tied him up at gunpoint. They then stole cash, guns, jewelry and Fuger's automated-teller machine card and personal identification number, before driving off in his 2003 Ford pickup.

After withdrawing cash from an ATM with Fuger's debit card, they reportedly doused the pickup in gasoline and set it on fire.

Fuger told troopers he thought three people had broken into his house, two men and a woman, all dressed in black hooded sweatshirts and black clothing.

An ATM security camera captured images of Smith and Malay withdrawing money with Fuger's debit card that night at a Wells Fargo ATM in Wasilla.

On Sept. 16, troopers spoke with Malay and showed her the photos from the ATM camera. She told troopers she has known Smith for a long time, and identified the driver in the photos as Smith, according to an affidavit filed by troopers.

Smith was arrested by Palmer Police on Sept. 19 following a routine traffic stop. According to an affidavit filed by state troopers, Smith confessed to breaking into Fuger's home, robbing him, stealing his truck and setting it on fire. Investigators connected a string of other thefts to Smith, from the Valley to Soldotna.

He was charged with kidnapping, first-degree robbery, first-degree arson, first-degree burglary, third-degree assault, four counts of second-degree theft, first-degree vehicle theft, two counts of third-degree criminal mischief and tampering with physical evidence.

Trooper spokesman Greg Wilkinson said McDaniel was arrested Oct. 8 on the same charges as Smith. He is currently being held without bail at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility, pending arraignment.

On Oct. 6, troopers arrested Malay on many of the same charges as Smith and McDaniel, although Malay was not charged with first-degree arson or tampering with physical evidence because she was not involved in the destruction of Fuger's pickup, troopers said.

Malay is in custody at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility. Her bail is set at $50,000 cash and a court-approved third-party custodian.

Contact John Davidson at john.davidson@frontiersman.com.