Press Release

Judge Sentences Man to 10 years for Assaulting Officer and Distributing Heroin

July 30, 2015

(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) – On Tuesday, July 28, 2015, 37 year old Steven Dubois of Anchorage was sentenced by Judge Philip Volland to serve 12 years in prison. Dubois was sentenced for assaulting a police officer with bear spray in one case and attempted heroin distribution in another case. The overall sentence was 10 years to serve with an additional two years of suspended time.

In November of 2011, Dubois was stopped by an Anchorage Police Officer while Dubois was driving on Spenard Avenue. Dubois pulled over in front of the Bear Tooth Theater. When the officer approached the small truck, Dubois hit the officer directly in the face with the chemical spray, causing the officer to run blindly into the street. Dubois then drove off.

At the sentencing hearing, the officer stated that Dubois looked back at him calmly just prior to assaulting him (this was recorded by the officer’s in-car camera). Judge Volland commented that the assault was “unjustified, aggravated, and a danger to all.” He emphasized the obvious dangers created when an officer is forced to run blind into a street and sentenced Dubois to five years to serve for the assault.

Judge Volland found that Dubois committed the assault in order to avoid being arrested on an outstanding warrant for heroin distribution charges. Judge Volland also sentenced Dubois for the heroin charges. In that case, Dubois had been subjected to a probation search which led to the discovery of a half-ounce of heroin, scales, small baggies, injection kits, handguns, and a large amount of cash. Dubois also had five grams of heroin in his personal possession.

Judge Volland found that Dubois’ conduct was among the most serious for this type of conviction and emphasized that he had previously been convicted for selling heroin. The judge noted that Dubois no doubt has a serious addiction problem and hoped that a period of additional probation would help give him the support he obviously needed. He also noted the eloquent words of support Dubois’ brother had given regarding the need for substance abuse treatment. For the heroin charges, Judge Volland sentenced Dubois to seven years of jail with two years suspended. He placed Dubois on probation for three years upon his release.

CONTACT: Assistant District Attorney Jack McKenna @ (907) 269-6300 or jack.mckenna@alaska.gov at the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office.

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.