Ketchikan Man arraigned in Federal Court for assault on a Federal Officer

Anchorage, Alaska-U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a Ketchikan man was arraigned yesterday in Juneau on one charge of assault on a federal officer. 

Jon William Munhoven, 55, of Ketchikan, Alaska, also known as “John William Mundhoven,” appeared in court yesterday and pled not guilty to the charge.    

According to the information presented to the court, Munhoven was contacted by the United States Coast Guard in response to a disturbance on a private vessel outside of Ketchikan, Alaska.  Once contacted, USCG officers removed Munhoven from the vessel and onto a USCG patrol vessel.  Munhoven was subsequently placed in restraints.  The USCG secured the other vessel in order to tow the vessel into safe harbor.  The indictment alleges that Munhoven was hostile and aggressive during the tow operation and was placed on the deck of the USCG boat for his safety and the safety of other personnel on the patrol vessel.  Munhoven is charged with kicking a USCG officer in the face with a shod foot causing bodily injury to the officer.         

Assistant U.S Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who is prosecuting the case, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. 

The United States Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Ketchikan Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.  Munhoven remains incarcerated pending trial in this case.   

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.