Wrangell Sentinel -

A local man was found guilty of threatening a child in Wrangell First District Court on Sept. 17.

Randolph Kalkins, 46, was arrested May 8 on charges of assault in the fourth and violating conditions of release. A Class A misdemeanor, the fourth-degree charge means using words or displaying conduct to cause fear of imminent physical injury.

Because of her age, the complainant has not been named in court documentation. The prosecution contended Kalkins had offered the eight-year-old a ride in his car on May 7 while she was riding her bike along Zimovia Highway near the public park.

She reported to police the next day that when she declined, Kalkins was insistent and threatened to tell her father if she did not accept the ride. The complainant stated she had been scared the defendant might hurt her.

In court reports, Kalkins has been said to have admitted offering the girl a ride. A motion by Kalkins’ defense to suppress statements he made to police was denied by Judge Trevor Stevens on Aug. 26. It was ruled the defendant had not been in custody at the time of his questioning and had volunteered the information.

The assault charge was a violation of the conditions for his release from a previous arrest. Kalkins was out on bail for charges of violating a protective order, which he had been arrested for on April 18.

The complainant, Kimmie Smith, reported Kalkins had parked his car directly in front of her place of employment that day and provided photographic evidence to that effect.

Kalkins’ explanation to police was that he had pulled over in order to make a phone call. One condition of a six-month stalking order issued against him on Nov. 10, 2014, called for him to stay away from Smith’s workplace.

The trial for that case was held on Sept. 16. As the court was preparing for final arguments, the defendant changed his plea, and the jury was released Thursday morning before it could deliberate.

Because the violating

conditions charge was tied to the assault ruling, they were bifurcated at Thursday’s

trial. After being found guilty of the latter that evening, Kalkins pled out for the other violation.

Kalkins remains in third-party custody in Ketchikan where sentencing will take place. Sentencing for all three offenses was set for Sept. 28 at 1:15 p.m.

For the assault conviction, Kalkins could receive up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. The two Class B misdemeanors he pleaded guilty to may each be punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.