One of the five juveniles who escaped from the Kenai youth facility last year was sentenced Tuesday.
Superior Court Judge Charles Huguelet sentenced 17-year-old Joshua Crouse to seven years in prison with four suspended and five years supervised probation for his consolidated assault two charges; one year flat in jail for his escape charge; and restitution to his victim.
Prior to the final sentence ruling, the prosecutors presented a video from surveillance inside the facility on the night of November 7, 2014 when Crouse and four other Kenai youth escaped.
Investigator Paul Cushman with the Kenai Police Department narrated for Judge Huguelet as the three minute clip showed the facility’s recreation room where two staff were assaulted.
The video started by showing two workers interacting normally with the boys, then Crouse stood, whispered something, grabbed one of the guards and put him into a chokehold for nearly a minute.
Investigator Cushman stated the guard’s legs could be seen going limp in the video as Crouse held him.
Crouse let go when he ran out of the room to escape with the other teens.
Assistant District Attorney Amanda Browning said the state considered Crouse’s behavior especially troubling because the guards were not there as just security but often interacted with the teens. On November 7, 2014 during the escape activities, both guards received “significant injuries” and Browning said “Mr. Crouse has not shown any remorse.”
Crouse was present for his sentencing and gave a statement saying: “I really am sorry people got hurt. I wanted out and wasn’t thinking about others.”
Judge Hugelet responded by reminding the 17-year-old he could have killed the man and told Crouse he hopes that rehabilitation in jail will help the teen change his ways.
Hugelet included conditional terms in Crouse’s sentence: no contact with the other teens involved in the escape and Crouse must attain a GED or high school diploma by a specified date.
