Press Release

Kodiak Vessel Captain Convicted of Assaulting Crew Member

December 9, 2016

(Kodiak, AK) – On December 8, 2016, a Kodiak jury found 39 year old Kyle Mead guilty of assaulting a member of his crew. Mead was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree, two counts of Assault in the Third Degree and two counts of Assault in the Fourth Degree.

The convictions stem from an August 26, 2016 incident involving a report that Mead strangled a crew member and pushed them overboard. The victim reported to police repeated threats by Mead during the summer while working as a crewmember on Mead’s seiner F/V Miss Destinee. On August 26th, the victim reported Mead had become upset with him while deploying the vessel’s seine. The victim said Mead pushed him down, stepped over him and slapped him in the head before kicking him in his side.

Mead told the victim to stay in his bunk. Later, the victim reported that Mead came inside to his bunk and without warning punched him on the right side of his face and then put him in a choke hold causing him to become dizzy and preventing him from breathing. After that, the victim reported attempting to wave down another vessel for help when Mead pushed him forcefully over the rail of the boat. The victim reported catching himself on the rail but ended up waist deep in the ocean before being able to pull himself back up on the deck.

Mead will be sentenced on May 22 and 23, 2017 in Kodiak. Without aggravating factors, Mead faces a sentencing range of up to two years for second degree assault, up to 18 months suspended for the third degree assaults and up to 30 days in jail for each of the fourth degree assaults. Mead has prior misdemeanor convictions for assault, reckless endangerment, harassment, driving under the influence, and violating a domestic violence protective order between 1995 and 2009.

The investigation was conducted by the Alaska State Troopers in Kodiak.

CONTACT: Richard Moses at (907)486-5744 or Richard.Moses@alaska.gov

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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.