Three Wrangell residents were charged with one felony each earlier this month for allegedly delivering and/or manufacturing methamphetamine.
39-year-old Justin Churchill, 38-year-old Richard Eklund and 39-year-old Cooper Seimears were arraigned on Monday (May 12) in the Wrangell Courthouse. All three pleaded NOT guilty. A previous news story said they were arraigned earlier this month, but that was their first court appearance.
The charges stem from an investigation last month by the regional drug enforcement team, the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs Task Force. The team tracked a package being mailed to Wrangell.
Investigators say they seized the package on April 25. They say they took the drugs out, which included 88 grams of methamphetamine, and resent the package on its way to Wrangell. Wrangell police and the local Alaska Wildlife Trooper arrested the three men on April 30.
Churchill and Seimears are being held on $15,000 bail. Ecklund’s bail is set at $20,000 due to a previous escape charge 20 years ago. They also have a third-party custodian requirement if released.
Seimears requested his bail be reduced to $5,000 and drop the third- party custodian requirement. Superior Court Judge Amanda Browning rejected his requests due to the amount of drugs trafficked. She said it’s a threat to the Wrangell community.
Their omnibus hearing is scheduled for June 17 at 3 p.m. and their trial is scheduled for the week of July 28.
