Why Do The ‘Alaskan Bush People’ Keep Saying They Went To Jail?


This season of Alaskan Bush People, the Brown family finally decided to disclose a problem they have been dealing with since 2014. The Brown family’s claim to fame is that they have been living out in the Alaskan Bush for the past 30 years, living entirely off the land. Going with this theory, it would stand to reason the Brown family would always qualify for the PFD, or Permanent Fund Dividend, given to full-time Alaskan residents.

To qualify for the PFD, Alaskan residents must meet a “physical presence” requirement. This requirement states that residents must first live in the state of Alaska for one full-calendar year. After that requirement is met, residents can be out of the state for up to 180 days, or six months, every year and still qualify for the PFD. Because the Brown family claims they have lived only in the Alaskan Bush for the last 30 years, one would assume they would have no problem qualifying for this payment — however, the Browns were accused of falsely claiming they met the “physical presence” requirement.

According to KTVA Alaska, the only three members of the Alaskan Bush People family that weren’t charged with first-degree unsworn falsification and second-degree theft were two daughters, Birdy and Rain Brown, and oldest son, Matt Brown, who was recently rumored to have entered into rehab, as first reported by the Inquisitr. All other members of the Brown family were charged anywhere between three to 12 counts of both first-degree unsworn falsification and second-degree theft. The charges stretched over a timespan of four years, between 2010 and 2013, meaning the Brown family was out of the state for more than six months every year. This calls into question the Alaskan Bush People‘s claim that they have lived in the Alaskan Bush for the last 30 years.

On several recent episodes of Alaskan Bush People, the Brown family has stated multiple times that both Billy Brown and Josh “Bam” Brown would be going to jail. According to the show, the Brown family made a plea deal where only Billy and Josh would be required to serve time, and the charges were dropped against the rest of the family members. Billy and Josh each pled guilty to one count of second-degree unsworn falsification. Out of a total of 60 charges placed on the Brown family, 58 charges were dropped. The family shared on Alaskan Bush People that Billy and Josh would be serving 30 days in jail, but that is not the case.

In reality, Billy and Josh did not serve anytime in jail. The pair applied to be part of the Department of Corrections’ electronic monitoring program. Alaska Dispatch News shared that in order to qualify for the program, participants must meet a list of specific requirements, including no weapons in the home. The Alaskan Bush People stars traveled from “Browntown,” outside of Hoonah, to Juneau to serve their 30 day sentence with ankle monitors.

It is uncertain why the show continues to state that the family served jail time, when the truth is all they did was stay in Juneau for 30 days with ankle monitors. No doubt the deception is for ratings, but it continues to call into question the validity of Alaskan Bush People. Many have started to question if there is any truth at all to the show. Recently, it was reported that the Brown family doesn’t even live in “Browntown” and actually stays in a local hotel.

What do you think about all of the deception revolving around Alaskan Bush People? Do you think the show will eventually disclose that Billy and Josh never spent any actual time in jail, or do you think they will continue to try and deceive viewers for ratings? Leave your feedback in the comments below and tune in for the next episode of Alaskan Bush People on Friday at 9 p.m./8 p.m. central on Discovery.

[Photo by @AlaskanBushPPL/Twitter]

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