Sitka Residents Face Indictment on Multiple Charges Including Burglary and Drug Offenses

In a significant legal development last month, a Sitka Grand Jury brought charges against four local individuals, encompassing allegations of burglary and various drug-related misconducts.The series of indictments began with the arrest of 30-year-old Jason Svilar on January 30. Svilar’s apprehension came after the proprietor of a local inn reported a burglary to the police, supported by video evidence implicating Svilar in the act. The footage allegedly shows Svilar illicitly acquiring a key card to gain entry to the premises on several occasions, where he is accused of stealing food items such as a box of donuts, creamer, and coffee. On February 15, the Grand Jury charged Svilar with three counts of second-degree burglary, categorizing them as Class C felonies.In a related case, 35-year-old Shea Grogan was also indicted on February 15, facing serious charges of first-degree theft and fraudulent use of an access device or identification document. Both are considered Class B felonies. Grogan is accused of stealing in excess of $25,000 over a span from November 2019 to February 2022, as per the indictment.Drug charges were also a focal point of the Grand Jury’s recent actions. Jordan McGraw, a 32-year-old Sitkan, was indicted in Juneau on February 22, following the interception of a parcel from Washington State to Sitka on February 12. The package contained approximately 280 suspected fentanyl pills and 20 grams of methamphetamine. Law enforcement officials assert that McGraw was observed collecting the parcel and later admitted to opening it with the intention of extracting some of the drugs before delivery. He faces two felony counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance.Furthermore, 55-year-old Izaak Needham faces legal repercussions as well, with an indictment on February 8 for two counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance and three counts of misconduct involving weapons, all of which are Class C felony charges.Legal proceedings for these cases are ongoing, with Jordan McGraw’s jury trial slated for May of this year, while trial dates for the remaining defendants remain to be scheduled. The community awaits the outcomes of these cases, as they represent significant legal actions within the city of Sitka.