After Joshua Crouse and Randall Gary escaped the Kenai Peninsula Youth Facility on November 7, Crouse’s father and grandmother assisted the juveniles.
Seargeant Scott McBride with the Kenai Police Department…
McBride: “Follow-up investigation led Kenai Police to contact two individuals, Sharon Berghone, age 63 of Nikiski, and Larry Crouse, age 41 of Nikiski. Berghone was arrested and remanded to Wildwood pre-trial for two counts of Hindering Prosecution 1st degree, Crouse was arrested and remanded to Wildwood pre-trial for one count of Hindering Prosecution 1st degree. The charges stem from post escape assistance that was provided to the last two juveniles who were apprehended in Nikiski on Saturday.”
In court testimony, Joshua Crouse borrowed a strangers cell phone to contact his family.
His grandmother, Berghone picked up the 16 year-old boys from the beach per request of her son, Larry Crouse, and drove them to the Cabin Lake Road area.
Larry Crouse had also provided Berghone a cell phone and $160 cash for her to give to the boys.
After learning who the two boys were, the stranger whose cell phone was used provided the numbers called to the Kenai Police Department, stating they had not known who the juveniles were.
Larry Crouse appeared in court the morning of Friday, November 14, where his third party was set and bonds were set at $1,500