Wasilla man faces two indictments in single week

PALMER — A Wasilla man accused of pawning stolen guns was found slumped over the wheel of a pickup about 10 days after being released, authorities said.

Jimmy Tyrone Verley, 26, was arrested on New Year’s Eve and charged with two counts of second-degree theft, one count of fourth-degree burglary, and two counts of fourth-degree drugs misconduct, court documents show. Troopers arrested Verley a second time about 8 p.m., Jan. 12 off of North Luke Street in Wasilla, after receiving reports of a suspicious vehicle parked in a driveway, according to Alaska State Troopers media reports.

Because of the length of grand jury proceedings, Verley’s indictments for the first and second offenses were made public exactly one week apart, court documents show.

Troopers arrested Verley the first time after a routine check of local pawnshop records revealed two .45-caliber handguns had serial numbers listed as stolen in state law enforcement databases, according to an affidavit written by Alaska State Trooper Andrew Ballesteros.

Verley’s arrest was originally reported in the Frontiersman as the results of investigative efforts starting in January 2014, when the guns were first reported stolen.

Verley told troopers he noticed his friend and eventual victim owned guns and did not lock his doors, according to the affidavit. A few months later, Verley came back and took the guns. He held onto them for a few days, then pawned them, Ballesteros wrote.

“Verley stated in essence that he did steal two firearms from the residence on Earl Drive and pawned them for money for his family,” Ballesteros wrote.

While troopers searched Verley, they discovered a cut pen tube with burn marks and dark residue and a blue plastic container containing substances that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine and heroin, according to the affidavit.

Verley posted bond Jan. 5, court documents show.

In his most recent arrest, Verley was again found with drugs on his person, according to the Alaska State Troopers media release.

Verley faces charges of misdemeanor driving under the influence, violating the conditions of release, and fourth-degree drugs misconduct. Alaska State Troopers returned Verley to jail Jan. 12. He remained in custody at Goose Creek Correctional Center Monday afternoon on a $10,000 cash or corporate bail with a court-appointed third-party custodian required as a condition of his release, according to corrections officials.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com.