Indicted for first-degree burglary and second-degree theft for a Sept. 15 incident were Levin Boone, Jonathan Cole, Richard Hulslander and Dustin Pillars, all 18. Hulslander also was indicted for another count of first-degree burglary and second-degree theft and Boone was indicted for second-degree theft for an Aug. 25 burglary,
Alaska State Trooper Jeremy Rupe said thieves entered an East Skyline Drive home in August and took a Browning Safari 9mm rifle. The owner reported the theft to troopers and the serial number was entered into trooper records. In October, Rupe said an employee at the Crow's Nest Trading Post on Ocean Drive reported to troopers a customer wanted to pawn a rifle the employee suspected might have been stolen. Troopers investigated and determined the rifle was the stolen Browning, but the customer did not know it was stolen. Rupe said the rifle was alleged to have been sold to the customer by Boone.
"(The pawn shop employee's) help was greatly, greatly appreciated," Rupe said.
Boone is alleged to have received the rifle from Hulslander. The indictment alleges Hulslander entered the home of relatives on East Skyline Drive and took the rifle. Rupe said Hulslander had been staying with his relatives, but they kicked him out earlier.
In a separate incident, Rupe said thieves broke into the same East Skyline Drive home by prying open a door. The thieves took a Makita router, a Sony Playstation, some cash and other items with a total value of more than $500. In investigating that incident, troopers contacted Hulslander. Rupe said he confessed to the theft and lead troopers to a downtown apartment and an abandoned building where some items were stashed. Troopers also located other items at the Homer Pawn Shoppe on Pioneer Avenue. Rupe said employees there were also helpful in returning property. Hulslander did not know the full names of the other alleged thieves, Rupe said.
Rupe said he found out Hulslander had been driving around in a 1987 Chevrolet Blazer with the other three men and the Blazer was involved in an accident in September when a driver backed the Blazer into a pole and drive-through station at Wells Fargo Bank. Rupe contacted the registered owner and he told troopers he loaned the vehicle to Boone, Cole, Hulslander and Pillars. Based on that information, Rupe said troopers were able to identify the four men and link them to the September burglary.
Robert Webb, 18, was also involved in the Wells Fargo Bank accident (see story, page 1). Cole was arrested for driving under the influence in that accident.
Michael Armstrong can be reached at michaela@homernews.com.
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