Press Release

Anchorage Man Convicted in Shooting Trial

November 10, 2015

On November 9, 2015, an Anchorage jury found 33 year old Jesse Kern guilty of assault in the first degree. The verdict followed a five day trial before Superior Court Judge Michael Spaan. The jury also found Kern guilty of tampering with physical evidence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Laura Dulic.

The State presented testimony that Kern initiated a verbal altercation on January 21, 2015 with a man walking by his property. Kern was carrying a revolver and the other man was unarmed. As the men argued, Kern pointed the revolver at the man, which led to the other man to try to disarm Kern. Kern shot the man in the groin. The man left Kern’s property and called 911. Kern ran into his house, hid the revolver, and also called 911.

Kern has 11 prior misdemeanor convictions in Alaska, including two prior assault convictions. Kern faces a sentence of seven to 11 years in prison for the assault conviction and zero to two years for the tampering with physical evidence conviction. Kern will be sentenced by Judge Spaan in Anchorage on March 18, 2016. Kern will remain in the custody of the Department of Corrections while awaiting sentencing.

CONTACT:  District Attorney Clint Campion @ (907) 269-6324 or clinton.campion@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.