Second suspect arrested in Hatcher Pass kidnapping and assault

Another man was arrested Wednesday in connection with the kidnapping and assault of two brothers who investigators say were left for dead in Hatcher Pass after being shot last week.

Alaska State Troopers wrote in an online dispatch Thursday that 26-year-old Corey S. Sylva of Anchorage was taken into custody at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. He was being held at the Anchorage Correctional Complex and made an initial court appearance at the jail's courtroom Thursday afternoon.

Sylva faces two counts each of kidnapping and third-degree assault, according to online state court records.

Another man, 34-year-old Matthew Scharber, was arraigned Wednesday on felony charges of attempted murder, vehicle theft, assault and kidnapping.

Affidavits in the defendants' cases said that 22-year-old Kevin Kirlin and 23-year-old Keeton Kirlin were kidnapped from a Mountain View apartment, taken to Hatcher Pass and shot multiple times. A driver found them early Oct. 27 lying in the road at Hatcher Pass, the charging document said.

The charges against Scharber allege the victims were assaulted in the apartment by two men "over a stolen wallet."  Sylva's charges, filed Wednesday, suggest he owned the wallet.

Kevin Kirlin told police he and his brother witnessed Sylva outside Scharber's apartment on Oct. 20 looking for a wallet. Keeton found the wallet on the ground and kept it, pocketing $120, according to the charges.

The charges also say the brothers identified Sylva in a lineup.

"Kevin thought Corey was the person that pointed the gun at him and beat with (a) stick," the charges say. "Keeton immediately identified Corey from the lineup and was 100 percent certain that it was him," referring to the beating and kidnapping.

Although Sylva does not face the more serious charge of attempted murder, District Court Judge Jo-Ann Chung noted during his arraignment that kidnapping is an unclassified felony with a maximum sentence of 99 years.

Sylva told the judge he could not afford an attorney. He said he runs a business but has no savings. State business records list Sylva as the sole proprietor of Electronics Central, a cellphone and computer repair venture.

"This whole incident screwed that up," he told the judge, who reminded him it was within his rights to stay quiet and discuss the charges with an appointed public defender she granted.

Assistant District Attorney Javier Diaz requested a bail similar to Scharber's: $250,000 cash or corporate appearance bond, with a $100,000 performance bond plus a third-party custodian.

As the prosecutor and Judge Chung discussed the particulars of bail, Sylva interrupted.

"I really have to take care of my daughter. I'm her only dependent," he said.

The judge informed Sylva he faces serious charges and only had the state's allegations to go from before imposing the state's bail request. Sylvia held his head in his hands momentarily as Chung continued with the hearing.