Governor: Full prosecution of threats

Petroleum News • Alaska

The state of Alaska will not tolerate any threats to Alaska’s energy facilities and will prosecute any such cases to the full extent of the law, Gov. Tony Knowles said Oct. 12. “Anyone who threatens Alaska’s pipelines and our energy resources will be aggressively prosecuted,” Knowles said. Knowles’ comment came as a Fairbanks grand jury indicted Daniel Carson Lewis on three felony charges in connection with the Oct. 4 shooting of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline that shut down the pipeline for 64 hours and spilled more than 285,600 gallons of oil.

A Fairbanks grand jury handed down an indictment Oct. 12 against Lewis on three felony charges that carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and fines of $150,000. The felony charges are for criminal mischief in the first degree; operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a felony due to prior convictions; and assault in the third degree. Lewis could also be made to pay restitution to the oil companies and to the state. A joint criminal investigation of the incident is being conducted by the Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Crimes Unit, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Additional federal charges maybe brought against Lewis.