Little Salmon/Carmacks Chief Eddy Skookum failed in an attempt to have his bail lowered in a US court hearing on Thursday.
Skookum was in Haines, Alaska, on July 4 when he was arrested by police for alledgedly assaulting a woman at a motel.
He can’t pay the $50,000 bail that’s been imposed for the felony charge of assault.
During Thursday’s court hearing, he asked to have it reduced to $2,000. The judge heard arguments from Skookum’s lawyer, who compared the chief to a visiting head of state with diplomatic immunity.
Amy Williams, the deputy district attorney, countered with the gruesome details of the crime scene.
“There was a bit of blood in the parking lot and lot blood in the room, and broken lamps and furniture,” said Ed Lapeyri, the owner of the Captain’s Choice Motel, in an interview earlier this week.
“Whatever happened in that room wasn’t good,” he said. “It wasn’t good for her.”
The judge ended up siding with the district attorney, and Skookum remains in a Juneau penitentiary awaiting his next hearing.
The First Nation issued a news release Friday assuring members the government will continue to run day-to-day work normally.
The council was scheduled to hold a meeting this morning at 10 a.m. to discuss the situation. The First Nation is providing counsellors for anyone close to Skookum or the victim, who is also from the community. (James Munson)