Steve Kroschel’s animal cruelty trial is coming home to Haines. Kroschel, who ran the Mosquito Lake wildlife facility for decades, was charged just over a year ago after troopers raided his property and seized many of his animals. He then spent months in Russia, missing court hearings and drawing a warrant for his arrest, before returning in August. Now he’s asked for a local jury, saying he and his witnesses can’t afford to go to Juneau.

Both Judge Amy Mead and the prosecutor have agreed, so Mead will make the trip and squeeze everyone into our small courtroom, likely sometime in mid-January.

There are still some wrinkles to iron out. Kroschel’s time away paused his right to a speedy trial, and the lawyers disagree about when that clock started ticking again. By one count the trial would have to happen by Christmas Eve, but the state wants the clock reset.

Reporter Will Steinfeld reports that both sides will make their case on that in the next week, and trial dates could be set at an Oct. 22 hearing. Meanwhile, Kroschel has taken to social media with a counteroffer of his own: the state pays him $1.5 million, Fish and Game admits no wrongdoing, and he promises never to own animals in the U.S. again.

— Rashah McChesney, Editor