Crime

Over two years after former Bethel hotel Tundra Suites’ Medicaid fraud was uncovered, the legal case has come to an end. Tundra Suites owner Chin S. Kim and his associate, Mi Ae Young, each pled guilty to one count of medical assistance fraud. They will pay $135,000 jointly as restitution. 

Bethel Police have identified one of the suspects in the ALASKAbuds marijuana store break-in and burglary. Acting Police Chief Amy Davis said that she received a tip from someone who knew the burglars.

Another telephone scam is trying to weasel money from Alaskans. Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson says that people should avoid giving any information about their Social Security number to unsolicited callers on the phone. Alaskans are being targeted as part of a national scam, with callers pretending to be from the Social Security Administration.

Two men have been arrested and charged for child pornography in Bethel. A state grand jury indicted Joseph Kashatok, age 63, on five counts of possession of child pornography. A state grand jury also indicted Gabriel Stone, age 28, with five counts of child pornography possession and six counts of producing pornography featuring a minor.

Former Gladys Jung Elementary School Principal Chris Carmichael has been released from jail to a transitional living facility in Anchorage. United States Magistrate Judge Matthew Scoble signed the release order, which states Carmichael would be transported from jail to the Norris House on Dec. 31 at 10 a.m.

The Lower Kuskokwim School District has divulged two prior allegations of inappropriate behavior with minors by former Gladys Jung Elementary School Principal Chris Carmichael. LKSD’s attorney, Eugenia "Jeannie" Sleeper, said that police investigated both incidents, and ultimately no charges were filed. One of those police investigations has since been reopened. 

Some Bethel parents are wondering why former Gladys Jung Elementary School Principal Chris Carmichael remained in his position for nearly a semester after a report was made in June that he had an inappropriate physical relationship with a minor. 

The Lower Kuskokwim School District has fired former Gladys Jung Elementary School Principal Chris Carmichael. LKSD’s attorney, Eugenia "Jeannie" Sleeper, said that Carmichael was served his final termination documents Dec. 19 in Anchorage, where he is being held in federal custody. His termination comes a day after a federal grand jury indicted him on federal charges, but Sleeper says that the decision to terminate Carmichael came before then.