Three years later, man sentenced

PALMER — An Anchorage man awaiting his fate since 2005 received a sentence equal to time he’s already spent in prison for his role in the death of Jeremiah Butler.

Louis D. Moon pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to third-degree misconduct involving a weapon, a Class C felony. He received a three-year sentence, which is what he has served in prison awaiting resolution of case that involved six others. Jeremiah Butler was killed during the fight on Feb. 12 four years ago.

A more serious charge of conspiracy was dismissed, but he will have to pay restitution when that amount is known, typically within 30 days.

Moon has also been convicted in federal court for a different weapons misconduct charge, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office dated Feb. 4. When a task force came to arrest him in 2005, they found a Hi-Point 9mm carbine, an Arms Corporation .22-caliber rifle, and assorted ammunition in his home. A 1992 robbery conviction out of California had prohibited Moon from owning any guns.

The U.S. Attorney said Moon has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for the weapons charge. Whether his time served will count against that sentence as well was a question unanswered at the hearings. Efforts to reach prosecutors afterward failed.

Defense attorney Michael Moberly called the case against Moon, “A complete mess. It’s longest grand jury indictment I’ve ever dealt with.”

But he said, there was no doubt from witness accounts that Moon was carrying a gun during the disturbance and that is why he chose not to take Moon’s case to trial. He also called the case “fairly aged” and by agreeing to a plea it would allow other cases in the melee to go forward.

Superior Court Judge Eric Smith agreed with Moberly on the extent of the grand jury paperwork as he handed down the sentence that carries no probation time.

According to prosecutor Alison Collins, Moon had a previous felony conviction, the robbery in California, and several misdemeanor violations.

Butler was found shot to death sitting in his own pickup on Barry’s Resort Drive on Valentine’s Day 2005. A nearby cabin, which police later found to have been the site of Butler’s slaying, was burning when police found the pickup.

In addition to Moon, four men were arrested and charged with murder or conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the killing. They are: Michael P. Bay Sr., 44, of Wasilla, Michael P. Bay Jr., 26, of Wasilla, Scott Schaefer, 31, of Wasilla, and Claude Hale, 28, of Wasilla.

Hale was alleged to have fired the gun that killed Butler as the two men were struggling earlier in the day Butler was found.

Two other men were arrested in connection with the case but not charged with murder or conspiracy. William Bogart, 30, of Peters Creek, was charged with burglary and assault. Tim Jones, 41, of Willow, was charged with assault.

At the time all seven were arrested, Alaska State Troopers laid out a sordid saga of the events leading up to the killing. Troopers believe the whole thing began when Jones accused Michael Plummer of having an affair with his wife. Troopers say Jones sent Schaefer and Bogart to hand Plummer a beating. Plummer nearly died in the attack.

Butler came into the picture when he came to Plummer’s aid. That’s when he came to the attention of the group eventually charged with his murder, troopers say. The men searched for him for a week and a half before the shooting, beating at least one person in an attempt to get to Butler.

All six remaining defendants are due to receive their sentences March 10. Most have been at the sentencing stage of their cases since late 2007.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.