A man found guilty of sexually assaulting and killing a woman in Tenakee Springs a decade ago has won an appeal for post-conviction relief.
The Juneau Empire reports the Alaska Court of Appeals ruled Friday that James Harmon received inadequate representation from an attorney appointed to represent him.
Harmon was sentenced to 72 years in prison in 2005 after being found guilty in the death of 19-year-old Maggie Wigen, who disappeared in Tenakee Springs in 2003.
Court documents say Harmon sought post-conviction relief, arguing that he didn’t receive sufficient representation during his initial trial. He was appointed a third attorney to represent him in that claim, but he argued that attorney also failed to adequately represent him.
Harmon’s accusation against his trial attorneys will go back to superior court.
