Stavee facing charges related to assault case

A 21-year-old Wrangell man has been charged with purchasing alcohol for a party where an alleged assault occurred on Jan. 12.

Taylor Stavee was charged on Friday, Jan. 25 with two counts – Furnishing Alcoholic Beverages to persons under 21, and a Violation of Conditions of Release in a previous case – and police believe it was the alcohol consumed at a party where a 17-year-old Wrangell High School student was allegedly beaten earlier in the month.

“This complaint is based on the statement of (Stavee) to Officer Paul and Lt. Merlin Ehlers during an investigation of an assault on a juvenile which occurred at a bus owned by Jon Campbell, and parked on the property of Jana Wright, where numerous people under the age of 21 had admitted to drinking Northern Lights whiskey during a party, further (Stavee) admitted to purchasing and supplying the alcohol for the party,” court documents read.

According to charging documents, Stavee is alleged to have told police that he purchased a half gallon bottle of Northern Lights whiskey earlier in the evening of Jan. 12 at the Totem Bar Liquor Store and that he took the bottle of whiskey to the bus on Case Avenue where the juveniles “consumed the alcohol.”

Court documents also give a glimpse into who was at the party where the 17-year-old was allegedly assaulted.

“This complaint is further based on the statement of (Stavee) that A.M.S. (age 17), A.F.G. (age 16), J.M.C-W. (age 16) and Donovan Bean (age 18) were present,” the document states.

Stavee’s initial court appearance was on Tuesday, Jan. 29. According to Magistrate Chris Ellis, Stavee was given a week to provide the court with information that he is enrolled in a treatment program in lieu of a bond.

According to WPD Lieutenant Merlin Ehlers, more charges are set to be filed in relation to the assault case this week.