Salard sentenced to 20 years

After nearly a year and a half of legal proceedings, former Wrangell physician Greg Salard was sentenced to 20 years for the receipt and distribution of child pornography.

Following a brief status conference the previous afternoon, on Feb. 9 Judge Timothy Burgess sentenced Salard to serve 240 months concurrently for each count, and to pay $25,200 in fines and assessments. If eventually released, Salard would be placed under supervision for life.

Salard had been arrested at his Wrangell home in October 2014, following a five-month investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A laptop found in his home at the time of the search was in the process of having its files erased.

Despite this, investigators were able to identify more than 600 images on the laptop. The prosecution submitted to the court evidence that included screenshots of illicit video files found on Salard’s computer, and had brought in a federal investigator working on the case, arresting officers and a computer specialist to testify. At his July 28 trial, a Juneau jury only needed a few hours to deliberate before handing over its guilty verdict.

In the government’s filing, prosecutors recommended 240 months imprisonment to be served concurrently, half the possible maximum. Following his sentencing, Salard also faces charges of aggravated rape in Louisiana, which last April announced its intention to extradite and try him for charges stemming from allegations made in 2007.

Prior to sentencing, defense attorney Steven Wells requested a lower than guideline sentence for Salard on the grounds of his work history, his age, and health issues. In addition to suffering a stroke, Salard previously had surgery for thyroid cancer but has not received follow-up treatment. Wells recommended a sentence of five years, based on previous court decisions. Also submitted were a dozen letters from family friends, relatives, neighbors and acquaintances asking for leniency.

Following the sentencing hearing, Salard was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals. A restitution hearing has been set for April 19.