Three Sitka defendants are facing drug trafficking charges related to meth and heroin.
A Sitka Grand Jury last week indicted 56-year old John M. Laigo on three counts of Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree for delivering methamphetamine.
Details surrounding Laigo’s arrest have not been included in his public court file. Sitka Superior Court judge David George issued an arrest warrant for Laigo on August 8. He was apprehended by Sitka police officers later the same day.
Assistant district attorney Jean Seaton confirms that Laigo’s arrest came as the result of a police investigation with the cooperation of US Postal Inspectors. The absence of a police narrative in Laigo’s file is intended to protect the confidentiality of investigative methods in the case.
In a related matter, Sitka police arrested 30-year old Crystal D. Brazell — again on a warrant issued by the superior court on August 8. The Grand Jury indicted Brazell on one count of Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, for delivering methamphetamine.
All charges against Brazell and Laigo are Class B felonies. They were held in custody in Sitka pending $4,000 bail each.
A third defendant is facing even more serious charges for allegedly distributing heroin. The Sitka Grand Jury indicted 45-year-old Noriss Sergius Howard on three counts of Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree — all Class A felonies. Bail for Howard was set at $10,000.
According to assistant DA Jean Seaton, Howard’s case is unconnected to the charges against Laigo and Brazell.
All three cases have been assigned to the Office of Public Advocacy in Anchorage. A trial date for Laigo has been tentatively scheduled for October.
