Alaska News

Rogue Alaska guide faces new charges after 10-month investigation

Following a 10-month investigation, Alaska prosecutors have charged a well-known outlaw hunting guide with falsifying business records, among other felony charges. Alaska Wildlife Troopers led the investigation against Anchorage resident Michael Anthony "Tony" Roberts.

The 50-year-old's two additional felony charges include defrauding creditors in an effort to avoid paying $160,000 in child support and a criminal mischief charge related to tampering with an ankle monitor. He also is facing 35 misdemeanor charges that run the gamut from driving with a revoked license to flying without a pilot's license to illegally possessing game and bear baiting.

The nearly yearlong investigation revealed the self-proclaimed guide led several illegal hunts in Alaska during the past four years. His customers, who hailed from various Outside states, were unaware that Roberts lacked proper credentials, according to the wildlife troopers. Roberts even guided hunts while awaiting trial for previous wildlife-related offenses. He was convicted of guiding without a license, wanton waste, same-day airborne taking of game and bear baiting.

Two collaborators who helped Roberts run his unlicensed guiding business could face charges, according to troopers, but none have been filed yet.

It's not too surprising that Roberts tampered with his court-ordered ankle monitor. He became something of a criminal celebrity in 1999 when he led law enforcement on a multi-week manhunt after fleeing from a trooper arrest team. In that case, undercover officers posing as hunting clients witnessed Roberts committing numerous wildlife offenses.

The semi-professional escape artist may have felt his capture during the 1999 manhunt was a fluke because he again ran and hid from law enforcement officials late last year. In October 2012, Roberts slipped away from a court-appointed, third-party custodian. Troopers found Roberts under a bed at a Big Lake area home. Roberts has been in custody at Palmer Correctional Center since his capture.

Contact Jerzy Shedlock at jerzy(at)alaskadispatch.com

Jerzy Shedlock

Jerzy Shedlock is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2017.

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