Jury finds Howe guilty of assault

A Wrangell jury convicted James Howe, 42, on two counts June 25.

Police had charged Howe with Assault in the Third Degree, a class C Felony, and Interfering with reporting of Domestic Violence, a class A misdemeanor.

According to a complaint filed in the First District Superior Court at Wrangell, authorities responded to a report of fighting at the Alaska State Housing Authority. Dana Cawthorne told police Howe had grabbed her wrist and held her down and struck her at least twice on the side of the head, according to the complaint. When she tried to call police, Howe took her phone away, the complaint reads.

Howe told authorities that he had taken the phone away and “roughed her up a little,” according to the complaint.

Howe previously pleaded guilty to charges of fourth-degree assault in the District Court at Ketchikan on Aug. 22, 2011 and again on May 2, 2012. The current fourth-degree assault charge plus his two prior convictions led to the charge of third-degree assault, according to court documents.

A sentencing hearing before Judge Kevin Miller is slated for July 14.