A second man pleaded guilty Monday in connection with the December 2023 burglary of Northwest Mining.
Bradley Paul Moody, 36, pleaded guilty to felony coercion and received a sentence of two years with two years suspended. He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor third-degree theft — a reduced charge from felony second-degree theft — and received one year with one year suspended. For misdemeanor violation of bail conditions, he received credit for time served. The state dismissed two counts of felony second-degree theft and one count of misdemeanor violation of bail conditions.
Northwest Mining owner Timothy Green reported to Alaska State Troopers in December 2023 that his Van Horn Road office, shop, and apartment had been burglarized earlier that month. He reported missing a Ford Excursion, a snowmachine, multiple firearms, three suppressors, a walrus skull and tusks, and several generators.
On Jan. 4, 2024, Green offered financial rewards for the return of his stolen property. Moody responded, offering to return some of the stolen items in exchange for the reward money.
Moody reportedly texted Green that he did not want law enforcement involved, threatening to “bury” and “put you in a ditch” if Green contacted authorities. He later exchanged two stolen rifles for $1,000 in cash.
On Jan. 6, Moody began using a different phone number and continued texting Green about exchanging additional firearms for reward money. Moody reportedly demanded that Green deposit $2,000 into a CashApp account he said belonged to Dametrey Jaymes Rice.
Moody and Green agreed that $1,000 in cash would be left next to a dumpster, after which Moody would reveal the location of the remaining firearms. According to the complaint, Moody picked up the money but failed to contact Green again or return the rest of the stolen property.
Defense attorney Lance Wells represented Moody, and District Attorney Joe Dallaire represented the state.
Dallaire said, “It seems as though he (Moody) wasn’t directly involved in the bulk of the criminality.”
Moody swore under oath Monday that what he told troopers during their investigation was true.
Dallaire said Moody entered into a cooperation agreement with the state and is considered a potential witness in his co-defendants’ upcoming trials.
Wells said Moody was taking responsibility for his role in the case, adding this is Moody’s first felony offense.
Moody has prior convictions for two counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, two counts of fifth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, two counts of driving with a limited license, one count of driving under the influence, two counts of violating bail conditions, one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief, and two counts of fourth-degree assault.
Superior Court Judge Kirk Schwalm accepted the plea agreement. Schwalm said Moody’s involvement “seemed like an accessory after the fact.”
Moody’s sentence falls at the low end of the appropriate range, Schwalm noted, adding that the court takes property crimes seriously.
“In this court’s mind, property crimes are not just about stuff, they’re not just about things, because the people those things are taken from had to go out and lawfully obtain that property,” he said.
Moody is the second person to plead guilty in connection with the burglary.
Charles William Hills pleaded guilty in March to misdemeanor attempted second-degree theft — a reduced charge from felony second-degree theft — and misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal mischief, a reduced charge from felony third-degree criminal mischief.
The trials of Dametrey Jaymes Rice, Shelby Nesbitt, Darrion Fox Erickson, and Cristy Ann Melvin are scheduled for May 12. Michael James Payuk Kious is expected to plead guilty on May 6.
Contact Haley Lehman at 907-459-7575 or by email at hlehman@newsminer.com.
