Sterling woman accused of assaulting a child sees trial delay

  • By Rashah McChesney
  • Thursday, February 26, 2015 9:56pm
  • News

A Sterling woman accused of dragging a 14-year-old boy off of his bicycle and sexually assaulting him, may not see trial until late in 2015 after a Tuesday hearing revealed that her lawyer was not ready to proceed with the case.

While Laurel Lee originally asked the judge to hold her lawyer, public advocate DinaMarie Cale, to a previously scheduled trial date in March — the hearing ended with Lee and Cale agreeing to a conference that would allow them to negotiate a later date.

Cale, who ran into scheduling difficulties with several cases Tuesday, said she would try to be prepared for the trial by July.

During a hearing about a different case, Kenai Superior Court Judge Carl Bauman suggested that Cale work to be more timely with scheduling her cases.

“There are only so many of this trial level that one person can be effective in doing in the amount of time that I’m being asked to do these trials,” Cale said.

Bauman responded that perhaps Cale needed to trim back her case load.

During the hearing on Lee’s case, a lawyer from the district attorney’s office agreed to a later date but asked that there be no more continuances in the case if it were scheduled to go to trial in September.

Lee, however, said she was unwilling to wait several months before trial — citing the state’s Criminal Rule 45 which gives defendants the right to a speedy trial.

Under rule 45, a defendant charged with a felony, a misdemeanor, or a violation shall be tried within 120 days.

However, there are exceptions for things like motions, examinations and hearings on competency.

“I’m bankrupt. I’m paying $1,200 a month,” she said gesturing to the monitoring bracelets she must wear as one of the conditions of her release.

Bauman said the monitoring was a condition of her release and that she could have chosen another avenue.

“You don’t have to incur the expense. There’s room in jail ma’am,” he said.

Lee was charged on Oct. 1, 2014 after Alaska State Troopers allege she forced a minor into the woods near the Sterling Highway and sexually assaulted him.

She was charged with first-degree sexual assault, kidnapping and second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

Lee faces between 20 to 99 years in prison with and up to $500,000 in fines under the first-degree charges.

The sexual abuse of a minor charge carries a prison term of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $100,000. If convicted, she would have to register as a sex offender.

Lee’s next scheduled court appearance is a trial call on March 11 at 2:30 p.m.

Reach Rashah McChesney at rashah.mcchesney@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, a Soldotna Republican who co-chairs the House Education Committee, speaks in favor overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
By 1 vote, lawmakers sustain Dunleavy veto of education bill

The bipartisan bill included $680 increase to per-student funding

The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Russian River Campground closed for construction

The campground is expected to reopen on June 2

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
Fish and Game announces series of closures and restrictions for king salmon fisheries

Cook Inlet king salmon stocks are experiencing a prolonged period of poor productivity, the department said

Montessori materials sit on shelves in a classroom at Soldotna Montessori Charter School on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Education debate draws state attention to peninsula charter schools

Dunleavy would like to see a shift of authority over charter school approvals from local school districts to the state

The Nikiski Senior Center stands under sunlight in Nikiski, Alaska, on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Support available for community caregivers

Nikiski Senior Center hosts relaunched Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program

Flags flank the entrance to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dunleavy vetoes bipartisan education bill

Senate Bill 140 passed the House by a vote of 38-2 and the Senate by a vote of 18-1 last month

The Alaska State Capitol on Friday, March 1, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
House passes bill altering wording of sex crimes against children

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer

Ben Meyer and Brandon Drzazgowski present to the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Watershed Forum gives update on streambank restoration

The watershed forum and other organizations are working to repair habitat and mitigate erosion

The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai resident arrested on charges of arson

Kenai Police and Kenai Fire Department responded to a structure fire near Mountain View Elementary

Most Read