Press Release

Two Ketchikan Men Convicted of Drug Trafficking

December 16, 2016

(Ketchikan, Alaska) – On December 15, 2016, a Ketchikan jury found 54 year old William Riggs and 59 year old Charles Woolsey guilty of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance – i.e., possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Superior Court Judge Trevor Stephens presided over the three day trial.

The convictions stem from a June13, 2016 incident where Ketchikan Police Department Officers found nearly seven ounces of methamphetamine in a garage controlled by both Mr. Riggs and Mr. Woolsey. Testimony at trial demonstrated that the street-level value of the methamphetamine exceeded $90,000. Evidence at trial showed that the defendants’ intended to distribute the methamphetamine in the Ketchikan area.

Judge Trevor Stephens scheduled sentencing for March 8, 2017. As a result of the defendants’ prior criminal history – both of whom were on felony probation from a prior drug conviction – each face a sentencing range of two to five years in prison.

CONTACT: Assistant District Attorney Tim McGillicuddy at (907) 225-6128

# # #

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.