Troopers seize 4.5 ounces of suspected heroin after Sterling traffic stop

Alaska State Troopers seized about 4.5 ounces of suspected heroin and two firearms from a truck stopped near Sterling early Friday, according to a Department of Public Safety dispatch.

Troopers stopped a black 2015 GMC truck at about 2:08 a.m. on Sept. 11. The driver, 61-year-old John Kuczmarski of Soldotna, had a revoked license and had violated release conditions a court set in a pending felony case, troopers said.

Troopers said they observed indicators of controlled substance use and seized the truck pending further investigation. A search warrant executed later produced the drugs and guns.

Kuczmarski faces six counts in case 3KN-26-00875CR: one class A felony accusing him of delivering heroin or possessing it to sell, two class B felonies for carrying a gun connected to a drug crime, and three misdemeanors.

A public defender has represented him since his arrest. He was remanded to Wildwood Pretrial. A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 18 in Kenai. The dispatch contains no response from him.

The charges are accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.