Alaskan Bush People's Legal Dramas Seem Never-Ending
The following references domestic abuse, sexual assault, and addiction.
In 2014, Discovery introduced the world to the Brown family through the show "Alaskan Bush People," a reality series about a family who lives in the wilderness of Alaska and Washington. At the head was Billy Brown (now deceased) and his wife, Ami Brown. Throughout the seasons, viewers have gotten to know Billy and Ami, as well as their children Rain, Matthew, Bear, Snowbird, Gabriel, Joshua, Noah, and Twila.
Over the years, there have been times when the audience has wondered if everything shown on camera is real. Where does the reality part of the show end and the fictitious part of it begins? All the while, members of the family have dismissed skeptical viewers who suspect the show isn't as real as purported. As Billy once told Radar, "What can you say to people like that? We call them 'bobs in the basement.' That's just what we call the people who sit behind the computers and don't have a life."
Regardless of whether fans believe what they are seeing or not, they have continued to tune in and keep the show going: Season 14 ended in December 2022. Through the years, the Brown family has also been involved in legal dramas that have brought even more viewers to their show, trying to find out what was going on. From stealing horses to DUIs, the legal dramas in the family seem never-ending.
Billy Brown got in trouble for stealing a horse
Billy Brown was the "Alaskan Bush People" patriarch until he suffered a fatal seizure in February 2021. As leader of the Brown family, he seems to have set the example in the legal territory as well having been the first member of the Brown family to be arrested.
In 1980, when Billy was 27 years old, he was arrested for stealing a horse in El Paso, Texas. Billy's plan was to take the horse and head to Mexico with an unnamed friend and Ami Brown, who was 15 at the time. According to the court records obtained by Radar, Billy and the aforementioned unnamed friend were already wanted for using bad checks when they got nabbed for stealing the steed. Ami's friend, who was also present for the arrest, reportedly told the police, "Billy Brown and Amora Brown tried to go across the border and didn't get through because we didn't have a title for our car. So [redacted] and Billy planned to steal some horses." Billy pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year probation. This would not be the last time he landed in hot water with the law.
The horse incident arrived shortly after Billy and Ami got hitched. According to Radar, Ami's parents apparently were okay with their teen daughter marrying someone a dozen years her senior, but wanted to make sure she finished school. Evidently, she not only didn't finish school but saw her new husband get arrested early on in their marriage.
The Alaskan Bush People stars' falsification charges
In 2016, there was legal drama regarding "Alaskan Bush People" and the Brown family's residency. That year, the government charged them with unsworn falsification and theft, lying about their residency, and claiming unearned paychecks.
Radar reported the family received a total of 60 counts of unsworn falsification. Over the course of four years, the family cashed over $26,000 in dividend checks from the government after having claimed their Alaskan residency when they did not live in the state. It was reported that both Billy and Joshua "Bam Bam" Brown had pleaded guilty to one count each and, according to CNN, they were sentenced to 30 days in jail on top of having to shell out for fines.
Billy addressed the matter in a statement after apologizing to the judge. "Because of the way we live our lives and the way we often unconventionally travel, I didn't keep good track of our movements," he said. "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."
Matt Brown was accused of sexual assault
In 2020, "Alaskan Bush People" star Matt Brown was accused of sexual assault by two women two years prior. The two accusers were Jessica Jurges, who used to be a personal assistant for the family, and Shelly Dawn, Matt's manager. Although The Sun reported the DA in charge of the case decided not to prosecute, both women decided to go public with their allegations.
"Matt eventually persuaded me to get in and he was like a shark. He ripped my bathing suit off. Wouldn't let go of me. I said no probably a million times," said Jurges. She added that it was Dawn who was finally able to get Matt away from her. Two days later, he assaulted Dawn in the same house. "He knew that I had a hip replacement and he knew that my legs aren't as strong as the rest of my body. And that's how it happened. I couldn't ward him off because my hips were weak," Dawn stated.
Matt claimed he was drunk at the time of both reported incidents and went back to rehab shortly afterwards. Per text message transcripts obtained by The Sun, Matt's brothers Bear and Gabe were in communication with Jurges following the alleged assault and apologized on behalf of their brother. "Also no part of any of what happened was your fault! Don't blame yourself," texted Bear. According to The Sun, Matt has been estranged from his family ever since and is no longer a part of the show.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Bear Brown faced domestic violence charges
In 2020, Raiven Adams filed a restraining order against her longtime partner, "Alaskan Bush People" star Bear Brown. According to The Sun, she alleged he was abusive and threatened her with a gun. Nothing came of it, but in 2022, he was arrested for domestic violence. According to the police report obtained by People, Bear and Raiven got into an argument, and Bear physically restrained Raiven by holding her on the bed and attempted to take her cell phone so she couldn't call for help.
According to The Sun, Bear spent the weekend in jail for domestic violence assault in the fourth degree. In the meantime, his wife showed her support through social media. "I appreciate people being supportive and reaching out," she wrote in an Instagram Story. "That being said, I do not have anything to share publicly. I want the best for my family and I hope that this ends in my family's best interest." Weeks after the arrest, TMZ reported Bear would be in the clear if he paid a fine, got rid of his firearms, and kept his nose clean.
In December 2022, Raiven shared on Instagram that she and Bear were no longer together. The following month, their second child was born. As of this writing, their current relationship status is unclear.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Billy Brown was accused of breach of contract
After "Alaskan Bush People" patriarch Billy Brown died in 2021, his widow Ami Brown had to deal with a lawsuit against him. The Sun reported in August 2021 that an investor named Robert Maughon took legal action against Billy and Alaskan Wilderness Family Productions for breach of contract. Maughon claimed that per a contract established in 2009, he was entitled to 10 percent of what Billy made via the show. The claim read, "Billy Bryan Brown and [the business] have failed to pay to Plaintiff the monies called for in the Lifetime contract."
Because the lawsuit happened after Billy's death, Ami Brown became the representative of his estate. In April 2022, she appealed to the court, asking the judge not to move forward with the $500,000 lawsuit as she believed it did not hold water. As noted in court docs obtained by The Sun, "Plaintiff made no demands for breach or damages until 2014, and at that time making demand on the alleged January 25, 2009 contract, but not on the alleged January 6, 2009 contract." The statement went on to claim Maughon intentionally waited until after Billy's death to take legal action.
Billy's estate is reportedly worth nearly $100,000 less than what Maughon asked for. As of this writing, the matter has not been resolved; a settlement meeting is set for March 2023.
Matt Brown was charged with a DUI
Matt Brown's struggle with alcohol misuse has caused issues on more than one occasion. In 2013, the former "Alaskan Bush People" cast member was charged with a DUI following a car accident. Radar reported Matt had hit a parked motorcycle and fled the scene of the accident. The officer who arrested him wrote in his report: "He was nervous, jumpy, and talked real fast ... I asked Brown why he was acting weird, and he said he had Attention Deficit Disorder." Although Matt claimed he had only had two or three shots of vodka, he blew a .150 blood alcohol level.
After his father, Billy Brown, bailed him out, Matt had to face the charges. DUI Canada Entry shared that in February 2014 Matt had to spend three days in jail and face 18 months of probation. Two years after the sentencing, he entered rehab for the first time, followed by a second time in 2018 after the sexual assault allegations against him.
Although he isn't as connected with the family or part of "Alaskan Bush People" anymore, Matt continues to share his life with his fans through his YouTube channel. He mostly records vlogs in the wilderness and shows where he lives these days.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).