‘Alaskan Bush People’ legal drama
Fox 411: Reality TV family members plead guilty to misdemeanor falsification, but judge wants jail time
Billy Bush, of “Alaskan Bush people,” and one of his sons Joshua “Bam Bam” Brown were both sentenced to 30 days in jail for lying on Permanent Fund dividend applications on Monday, according to the Alaska Dispatch News.
The father son duo pled guilty to one count of second-degree unsworn falsification, which is a misdemeanor. They both star in Discovery’s show “Alaskan Bush People,” however the network told FOX411 the show will not be canceled.
As a part of their plea deal, the two must pay back the dividends they got, give up their rights to ever get a dividend again and complete 40 hours of community service work.
The Brown family called into the hearing on Monday, as Billy Bush said he was in California. Billy Brown’s attorney, James McGowan, argued against jail time for the 61-year-old, referencing his medical conditions, which he said includes seizures and trouble with his kidneys.
“Mr. Brown [is] not the first person to come before the court with significant medical problems," Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg said, according to the Alaska Dispatch News.
Billy Brown issued a statement to FOX411 regarding his sentencing.
"Alaska’s dividend program has specific requirements for the length of time in the state, and the reasons for being out of Alaska,” he said. “Because of the way we live our lives and the way we often unconventionally travel, I didn't keep good track of our movements. I accept full responsibility for filing for benefits without confirming that we met the requirements. We are committed to living in Alaska for the long term and we respect the state’s rules. I thought it best to settle to put this behind us."
Back in October 2014, state prosecutors charged Billy Brown, his wife and four of their seven children with a total of 60 counts of first-degree unsworn falsification and their first-and-second-degree theft linked to dividend applications from 2010 to 2013. Because Billy Brown and Joshua Brown pled guilty, all the charges were dropped against the rest of the family.
The family has appeared on the show since May 2014.
Fox News' Diana Falzone contributed to this report.
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