Trooper, union say politics delayed Johnston drug case

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Anchorage Daily News

A Mat-Su drug investigator and the union representing Alaska State Troopers are alleging political meddling in the Sherry Johnston drug case, including a delay in serving the search warrant because of the November election.

Johnston is the mother of Levi Johnston, who became nationally known in September when Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, announced their daughter, Bristol, was pregnant and he was the father. Palin was running for vice president while Sherry Johnston was under investigation.

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That's not what Kyle Young, a troopers drug investigator who was involved in the case, wrote in an e-mail last week to all members of the Public Safety Employees Association, the union that represents troopers and other law enforcement officers around the state.

Young wrote that after it became clear who Johnston is, "this case became anything but normal. It was not allowed to progress in a normal fashion, the search warrant service WAS delayed because of the pending election and the Mat Su Drug Unit and the case officer were not the ones calling the shots,"

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"This really does smack of political favoritism. And if that be the case, it's another example of the Palin administration's direct influence on the public safety unit," Cyr said.


Read more: http://www.adn.com/front/story/641997.html

[tularetom]

1. Caribou Barbie is going to find everything she does under increased scrutiny

and while she may be sneaky, she ain't smart enough to avoid fucking up. She won't be a factor on the national scene ever. I'd be surprised if she isn't in jail by 2012.

[RamboLiberal]

2. She may have a hard time being reelected or going for a Senate Seat

Ask conservative Republicans across the country what they think of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and the vast majority of them will begin to gush in cult-like fashion about how wonderful she is. Palin has energized the conservative base unlike anyone since Ronald Reagan. But how is she doing in the state in which she governs?

Some speculate Palin has every intention of running for president four years from now after tasting the national spotlight. She has yet to rule out a race for Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski’s seat two years from now. Murkowski’s seat opens the same time as Palin’s term as Governor ends. Palin may be better positioned to run for president after spending a couple years in the Senate. But how would she do against Murkowski?

A poll commissioned by TheAlaskaStandard.com and conducted by Dittman Research shows Palin would have a tough time beating Murkowski.

In fact, in a Republican primary, Murkowski would defeat Palin soundly, by a margin of 58 percent to 31 percent.

http://thealaskastandard.com/?q=node/232

[HopeHoops]

3. Well, I am just shocked. I am just totally shocked.

I'm sure interference with the business of the state police has NEVER happened in Alaska before while Palin was in office. No wait...

[RamboLiberal]

4. CNN actually did a short report on this story this morning

I'd love to see it go national.

[rainbow4321]

6. Johnston's mom: public defender, on medical disability, divorcing/child support

I'm betting the Palin family, specifically Sarah Palin, wants this to goooo awaaaayyy..quickly and quietly. Imagine what all could come out in a trial..WHO was in the Johnston house, when were they there, what did they know and when did they know it, etc...

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/643147.html?pageNum=1&&&&&&&&mi_pluck_action=page_nav#Comments_Container

Sherry Johnston pleaded not guilty to the drug charges against her today.

A Palmer grand jury on Friday indicted her on six felony counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance relating to possession and sale of the prescription painkiller OxyContin.

Johnston showed up alone for her first appearance in Palmer court this morning -- no lawyer, no friends or family to support her.

Johnston asked for and received a public defender, a lawyer paid for by the state. She told Palmer Superior Court Judge Beverly Cutler that she is in the midst of a divorce and living on medical disability payments and child support.

[RamboLiberal]

5. Wave of Mat-Su burglaries in '08 alarms citizens

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Burglary -- unlawful entry into a building -- topped the crime list in the Mat-Su in 2008, at least by the numbers. Alaska State Troopers in the Valley logged more reports on break-ins than anything else, followed closely by assaults.

The Palmer district attorney's office answered the public's rising level of concern with a new priority for home burglaries. District Attorney Roman Kalytiak issued a directive last February: no plea bargains reducing charges without written approval.

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The rise in burglaries doesn't extend south of the Mat-Su. In Anchorage, reports of break-ins dropped in 2008 compared to 2007.

And even here, the numbers aren't exactly eye-popping. Troopers in the Mat-Su say they logged 397 burglary reports through November, 2008. That's up from the 382 reported in all of 2007 but not shockingly so.

Instead, authorities say, the extent and seriousness of the crimes are what's really getting public attention. Reports from north of Talkeetna to Glennallen and Valdez included some high-profile cases.

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Law enforcement agencies point to drugs as the prime motive for break-ins: many burglars steal stuff to buy the drugs of choice in the Valley right now -- heroin or pills like Oxycontin.

http://www.adn.com/crime/story/642733.html