Editor’s note: This article has been updated to show that Roland Maw is the former executive director of the United Cook Inlet Drift Association.
The felony indictments against a former Board of Fisheries nominee have been dismissed.
Juneau Superior Court Judge Louis Menendez on Thursday dismissed 12 felony charges against Roland Maw, a former United Cook Inlet Drift Association executive director and 2015 nominee for the Board of Fisheries. Maw was charged with fraud and theft for allegedly claiming Permanent Fund Dividends while simultaneously claiming residential benefits in Montana.
Maw is still charged with five class A misdemeanors for unsworn falsification, which are currently scheduled for trial on April 9 in Juneau.
Gov. Bill Walker nominated Maw for an empty seat on the Board of Fisheries in January 2015, but Maw withdrew his candidacy in February shortly before it became public that the Montana Department of Fish , Wildlife and Parks was investigating him for claiming residency benefits in both states. Maw pled no contest to the Montana charges in May 2015.
The indictment Menendez dismissed Thursday was the state of Alaska’s second attempt. The state charged him with multiple counts of falsifying his residency, a class C felony, in January 2016, but the felony indictments were dismissed in January 2017 after the defense argued that the state prosecution had not properly presented hearsay evidence to the grand jury. The state brought the second set of indictments in February 2017.
Juneau Empire reporter Alex McCarthy contributed reporting. Reach Elizabeth Earl at eearl@peninsulaclarion.com.
