Suspect in Muldoon Robbery Accidentally Given Bail, Turns Self In

November 11, 2011|By Christine Kim | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A suspect in a Muldoon home-invasion robbery attempt early Thursday morning that left two suspects dead after they were shot by the homeowner was accidentally released on bail, but later turned herself in.

Ursula Pico, 21, was not at the scene of the robbery, 55-year-old Larry James' trailer home on Muldoon Road, but Anchorage police say she knew of a plan to rob James. She was charged with conspiracy and tampering with evidence.

Another surviving suspect in the robbery, 18-year-old Brian Pfister was arraigned at Anchorage Jail Court Friday afternoon with charges of first-degree robbery, first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree burglary, and second-degree assault.

APD said Pfister was outside James' trailer home and was seen running away after two 19-year-olds, Maurice T.R. Johnson and Joseph Trantham, forced their way inside and assaulted James demanding money and drugs.

James told police he led Johnson and Trantham to his safe, where he pulled out a gun and shot them. Both Johnson and Trantham were pronounced dead at the hospital, and Pfister and Pico were both arrested Thursday.

While Pfister faced the court Thursday, Pico was not formally arraigned. Magistrate Carmen Clark said Pico's bail was set at $100,000 plus a third-party custodian Thursday, but that was miscommunicated to the Department of Corrections. According to Judge Clark, paperwork did not reflect the third-party custodian requirement and Pico was released on bail by mistake, without a third-party custodian. The judge then issued an arrest warrant for Pico.

But Thursday afternoon, Pico voluntarily turned herself in. She waited in Anchorage Jail courtroom with her family, and was later taken into custody.

Contact Christine Kim at ckim@ktuu.com

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