A bright-eyed recovering substance abuser who was making gains in her hometown of Sand Point, advocating for a halt in the flood of methamphetamine and heroin to the community, has been charged with possession and breaking her parole conditions after a routine compliance check.
Alaska Dispatch published a story Thursday highlighting the efforts of a group called Reclaim Alaska in the Aleutian town, where concerned citizens have banded together to create a healthier environment for kids and adults, hoping to curb rampant drug abuse. It held a gathering Thursday at Sand Point School, during which Lucinda Holmberg had planned to speak.
Holmberg had stepped up to help the group, saying she was serving as its co-chair. She shared with Alaska Dispatch her story of a struggle with drugs and recovery. But after years of abuse, Holmberg said she was eager to help Sand Point rather than continuing to break the trust of friends and family though lies and theft. Unfortunately, she failed. Two days after being interviewed, Holmberg was once again behind bars, arrested for allegedly having meth in her home.
A family member of Holmberg's who did not want to be named said she had infrequent contact with the 33-year-old. She described Holmberg as a recovering addict, one who appeared to be on the right path. Holmberg's involvement with the newly established nonprofit gave her loved ones hope, though moments of optimism were coupled with periods when Holmberg seemed withdrawn from friends, the family member said.
If convicted, Holmberg faces the possibility of years at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, the state's female prisoner facility. She'd be leaving behind a 7-year-old daughter -- and her story spotlights the grim reality of drug use in Sand Point, a fishing community of about 1,000 residents in the East Aleutians Borough. Nevertheless, some contend the community has its fair share of success stories, too.
Residue tested positive for meth
The charges against Holmberg say a Kenai-based probation officer flew into Sand Point on March 12 and went to Holmberg's house with a local law enforcement officer on a routine check. Holmberg was sitting on the couch when the officers entered, and her husband, Chris Holmberg, was leaving a room with a friend. Shortly thereafter, police determined Chris Holmberg had been smoking marijuana right before they arrived.
The officers decided to call the K-9 unit, which has been used to bust drug users and dealers locally and in nearby communities, and search the house. The police dog, Tok, found two straws with a hard substance caked on the inside, the charges say. Lucinda Holmberg allegedly admitted the unknown substance was meth, and the drug belonged to Holmberg and her husband. Chris Holmberg allegedly told police the pot belonged to him but any hard drugs were Lucinda's.
Lucinda Holmberg wasn't arrested that night. The probation officer returned the next day with a search warrant and sampled residue from one of the straws, which tested positive for meth. Holmberg was hauled off to jail. Chris Holmberg was also arrested on controlled substance charges but has since posted a $2,000 bail, according to online court records.
Second and third chances
The scheduled gathering of community members seeking to stop the flow of drugs into the community went on Thursday at Sand Point School without Holmberg, who had planned to share her story. Reclaim co-chair Tiffany Jackson said she opted to avoid discussion of the arrest, because she didn't want to say anything that could have legal implications; the new charges against Holmberg are accusations, and she hasn't been found guilty of a crime.
Instead, Jackson and other members of the nonprofit talked to grade school students about what improvements they'd like to see in the community. The kids wanted to see more opportunities for physical activities like basketball and more family time, Jackson said. They also wanted stricter repercussions for drug offenders. "No second and third chances," they said, according to Jackson.
Before her arrest, Holmberg spoke of the need for forgiveness and better support systems for people struggling with substance abuse. She's already received at least two previous chances at redemption, however. Her newest charges could result in significant jail time.
In March 2011, Holmberg was charged with stealing prescription drugs, including morphine, from a pharmaceutical vending machine at the local healthcare clinic. According to the charges, she used a spoon to fish drugs out of the bottom of the machine. The probation officer filed an affidavit earlier this month after her most recent arrest stating Holmberg hadn't been sentenced for the March 2011 offense.
Later that year, Holmberg was charged with forging checks from a former employer in 2010. She told police she used an accounting program to print the checks. According to the probation officer's affidavit for that case, Holmberg had 20 months of jail time suspended from her sentence, time she'll have to serve if the latest charges result in a conviction, in addition to the sentence for her most recent drug arrest.
When community members stumble
Reclaim leaders and Sand Point law enforcement personnel said they hope Holmberg can eventually turn her life around. The nonprofit said its goals haven't changed. Jackson said she continues to hope the group will bolster the efforts of people in recovery as well as those still struggling with drugs. "Our efforts to pursue those goals don't decrease when people in our community or members of Reclaim stumble," she said. "Rather, we take those situations as an opportunity to shed more light on what we're doing to help pursue our goals."
Police officer Mike Livingston said the Sand Point Police Department sees a fair number of people in the community who don't comply with their probation conditions.
"But there are people who do get away from substance abuse and become outstanding members of Sand Point," he said. "There's a lot of success stories."