Teen Wants End To Banishment

One of two teen felons who opted for banishment in the wilderness over prison decided Tuesday he’s had enough exile and wants to return to Washington state to serve jail time.

Adrian Guthrie, 18, told a Tlingit tribal court he is ready to come in from the wilds of a Southeast Alaska island and do his time, said Byron Skinna, one of the Native judges who sentenced the youths to banishment in September 1994.

Skinna said Guthrie wants to get his punishment over with and get on with his life. Guthrie remained in exile and was unavailable for comment. Skinna said Guthrie gave no other reasons for wanting to end the banishment.

Guthrie’s cousin and co-defendant, 18-year-old Simon Roberts, told the court he wants to complete his banishment - scheduled to end in March for both youths. “He still feels like it’s doing him some good,” Skinna said.