With the recent legal troubles of the Brown family, should fans of ALASKAN BUSH PEOPLE be wondering about the future of the show? Could it–should it–be cancelled?
There is definitely a huge fan-following for ALASKAN BUSH PEOPLE. And, no doubt many of those fans are disappointed today, after finding out that some of the family members have admitted to accepting Alaska’s annual oil revenue windfall check when, in fact, they were not living in the state, from 2009 to 2012. The state gives most residents an annual windfall check; the involved family members have been accused of stealing a combined total of more than $20K from the state via the annual windfall payments.
News reports have indicated that Billy Brown and son Joshua (known as “Bam Bam” to family and fans of the show) Brown signed separate statements, admitting that they left Alaska in October 2009 and did not return until August 2012; they did not have a principle place of residence on Mosman Island in southeast Alaska during that time as indicated on more than one application for dividends, reports have stated.
“By submitting falsified PFD applications for myself and my children, I stole $7,956 from the people of Alaska,” Brown wrote, according to the Alaska Dispatch News.
At this time, Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg has rejected the Browns’ attempts for a plea agreement that would not involve jail time, saying, “There needs to be a higher punishment to act as a deterrent. If you knew you could catch everybody, maybe you wouldn’t need to punish each of them as much.” The Alaska Dispatch News further revealed that the judge indicated a 30-day sentence would be appropriate, although it has not been imposed at this time.
And, with the judge’s refusal to accept a plea deal not involving jail time, Billy and Joshua withdrew their guilty pleas. James McGowan, Billy Brown’s attorney, indicated that before the plea agreement had been entered the indictments against Billy and Ami Brown had already been dismissed. A motion to dismiss charges against four children is reported to be pending. At this time, prosecutors have reportedly not decided whether to refile charges or seek new indictments.
And, what about ALASKAN BUSH PEOPLE, which has drawn in close to 5 million viewers per episode on Discovery Channel? At this time, the network is still declining to comment–but we certainly will not be surprised if the next time we hear from Discovery Channel on the subject of ALASKAN BUSH PEOPLE, the news is not positive for its renewal.
What do you think? Should the show be taken off the air immediately? Finish this season then not be renewed? Renew regardless of the Browns’ legal woes? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.
ALASKAN BUSH PEOPLE airs on Discovery Channel on Wednesday nights at 9/8c.
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