Wrangell fisherman, son sentenced for falsifying halibut reports

A Wrangell man and his son have both been sentenced to five years probation and fined a combined $100,000 dollars for falsifying halibut landing reports.

Charles “Chuck” J. Petticrew Sr. was sentenced on the felony charge of conspiracy to falsify Individual Fishing Quota records in U.S. District Court in Juneau Monday, just hours before his son was sentenced on a similar, but lesser charge.

Petticrew, 70, was also ordered to install a tracking device on his fishing vessel Arlice, a measure that his attorney Michael Moberly says is already underway.

Between June 2010 and May 2013, Petticrew would log halibut catches from the Gulf of Alaska, known as Area 3A, when the fish were actually caught in Area 2C along the outer coast of Southeast Alaska.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt said Petticrew tried to save travel time and money. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries enforcement agent noticed 3,977 pounds in logged catches did not correspond with common landing ports for that area. The value of that halibut was estimated at $23,375.

Petticrew was never accused of harvesting more fish than he was allowed, just falsifying in which area that fish was caught. He admitted to the allegations and the proposed sentence was part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. He must pay $90,000 in fines.

Petticrew told the court that he was very dissatisfied with himself for putting his family through this ordeal. He said the violation originated from his inability to climb ladders to the processor, and his son would go up and sign the paperwork for him.

Moberly said Petticrew has struggled with the fishing business since a crane accident over thirty years ago that injured his left foot and forced amputation of his right leg. Petticrew used both a wheelchair and crutches during his Monday appearance in court.

Charles “Jeff J. Petticrew Jr. was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine in addition to the five years on probation for a misdemeanor charge of violating the Lacey Act by falsifying records.

The younger Petticrew, 42, works as a substitute teacher in the Anchorage School District during the off-season. He said he’s very sorry for what’s transpired and he takes pride in the integrity of the fishery, such as throwing fish back when they are undersized. But he said life is about choices, and he chose poorly.

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