Kotzebue teen suspect in stabbing incident

TAMAR BEN –YOSEF

April 18, 2008 at 10:02AM AKST

Police said alcohol was a factor in a stabbing incident that took place in Kotzebue on Friday, April 4.

Kyle Jepson, 17, has been charged with first-degree domestic violence assault after he allegedly stabbed his father, leaving him with injuries that required him to be airlifted to a hospital in Anchorage.

Another charge of second-degree escape was filed against Jepson after he escaped from a juvenile probation officer escorting him back to Nome, where he was being held.

On Monday, April 7, Jepson was brought into Kotzebue for a trial hearing. It was at this hearing that Jepson was charged with the assault.

After the hearing Jepson and the probation officer went to the Kotzebue Airport to wait for a flight to Nome. While waiting, Jepson requested to use the restroom and was escorted there. Walking back to his seat in the waiting lounge, Jepson fled the room and escaped through a back door.

Jepson was not caught until the following day at a residence in town, according to Sgt. Karl Main of the Kotzebue State Troopers.

Main said the troopers weren’t notified of the missing Jepson until Tuesday morning, hours after the escape.

At a second trial in Kotzebue, Jepson was charged with a second-degree felony escape charge and he was waived to adult status for both charges, according to John Ward, Kotzebue police chief.

Tamar Ben-Yosef can be reached at (907) 348-2419 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 419.