Four people were charged with felony burglary for allegedly breaking into the home of a deceased man in Nikiski.
Bradly Martin Luke, 25, Kenneth Paxton Oder, 49, Alicia Marie Ridge, 28, and Dominic Sunrise Ronellenfitch, 23, allegedly went to a Nikiski residence on Jan. 8 and attempted to steal a water heater.
According to an Alaska State Trooper affidavit filed with the court, a neighbor reported that three men in a dark-colored pickup were outside the residence, which the neighbor knew to be unoccupied. When troopers arrived on scene, they identified two vehicles parked outside of the home, with Ronellenfitch standing outside the truck and the three others sitting inside a second car. While questioning Ronellenfitch, the troopers observed a large water heater in the bed of the truck, according to the affidavit.
Each of the four suspects gave a different explanation to troopers as to why they were outside the residence and why the water heater was in the back of the truck, troopers reported. Luke falsely identified himself to the troopers, according to the affidavit. After further questioning, Luke told the troopers that the four of them had driven to the unoccupied residence together with the intention of taking the water heater and putting it in Oder’s home, according to the affidavit.
Luke faces one charge of reporting false information when cited or served a warrant, a class A misdemeanor, one count of violating conditions of release, a class B misdemeanor, one count of first-degree burglary of a dwelling, a class B felony, and one count of third-degree theft, a class A misdemeanor.
Oder, Ridge, and Ronellenfitch each face one count of first-degree burglary and one count of third-degree theft. Their preliminary hearing is on Jan. 22.
• By BRIAN MAZUREK, Peninsula Clarion
