Conviction of a sex crime in Alaska carries serious consequences, both legal and otherwise. Not only could you be sentenced to jail time and forced to register as a sex offender, you could lose your job and be barred from getting other jobs; and suffer damage to your relationships and reputation.

If you are facing state or federal sex crime charges in Alaska, you need to take action immediately to protect your rights and your freedom. The best way to do that is to work with an experienced criminal defense attorney who knows how to find and highlight the weaknesses in any case against you.

Understanding Sex Crimes in Alaska

There are several different types of conduct that can be charged as sex crimes in Alaska, including:

  • Sexual assault, which involves unwanted sexual touching, even through clothing, or unwanted sexual penetration
  • Sexual battery, which is sexual assault that involves force, or the threat of force
  • Sexual violence against an intimate partner
  • Child sexual abuse, also called child molestation
  • Possession of child sexual abuse materials (child pornography)
  • Statutory rape
  • Indecent exposure
  • Sexual harassment
  • Prostitution
  • Failure to register as a sex offender when required to do so

Sex crime charges can be the result of a mistake, such as believing that an alleged victim consented to sexual contact. Sometimes, a person who consented to sex later claims that they did not, out of embarrassment or shame. Charges can even stem from someone else’s behavior, such as a friend or family member downloading child pornography onto your computer without your knowledge. Regardless of the circumstances that caused you to be charged, you need the strongest possible defense.

Attorney Eric Derleth is an Alaska native and is known as “the Trial Guy” because of his over 25 years of courtroom experience, including defending clients against sex crimes charges. Respected for his intensive trial preparation, Eric is often able to get charges reduced or even dismissed before trial. Considering the seriousness of penalties for sex crimes in Alaska, having a skilled attorney on your side is crucial.

Penalties for Sexual Assault Charges in Alaska

The penalties for sexual crimes in Alaska depend largely on the seriousness of the crime and the alleged offender’s previous convictions. There are four categories of sexual assault, ranging from the most serious (first degree) to the fourth degree.

First Degree: Sexual assault in the first degree involves:

  • Sexual penetration of the victim without their consent;
  • Attempted sexual penetration involving serious injury to the victim;
  • Sexual penetration of a mentally incapable person in the offender’s care; or
  • Sexual penetration by a health care worker during treatment of the victim, whom the offender knows is unaware that a sexual act is being committed.

Sexual assault in the first degree is an unclassified felony, and is punishable by up to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.

Second Degree: Sexual assault in the second degree involves:

  • Sexual contact with the victim without their consent;
  • Sexual contact with a mentally incapable person in the offender’s care;
  • Sexual penetration of a person the offender knows is mentally incapable, incapacitated, or unaware that a sexual act is being committed; or
  • Sexual contact by a health care worker during treatment of the victim, whom the offender knows is unaware that a sexual act is being committed.

Sexual assault in the second degree is a Class B felony punishable of up to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

Third Degree: Sexual assault involves:

  • Sexual contact with a person the offender knows is mentally incapable, incapacitated, or unaware that a sexual act is being committed;
  • Sexual penetration engaged in by an employee of correctional facility and someone committed to the Department of Corrections;
  • Sexual penetration with a person the offender knows is 18 or 19 years old who is committed to the custody of the Department of Health and Social Services, and the offender is the legal guardian of the person;
  • Sexual penetration between a peace officer and a person, in reckless disregard of the victim being in custody of the peace officer or a law enforcement agency;
  • Sexual penetration between a probation or parole officer and a person, in reckless disregard of the victim being on parole or probation;
  • Sexual penetration between a juvenile probation or facility staff member and a person who is 18 or 19 years old, in reckless disregard of the victim being under the custody or supervision of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Sexual assault in the third degree is a Class C felony punishable of up to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

Fourth Degree: Sexual assault in the fourth degree involves:

  • Sexual contact between an employee of correctional facility and someone committed to the Department of Corrections;
  • Sexual contact between a person the offender knows is 18 or 19 years old who is committed to the custody of the Department of Health and Social Services, and the offender is the legal guardian of the person;
  • Sexual contact between a peace officer and a person, in reckless disregard of the victim being in custody of the peace officer or a law enforcement agency;
  • Sexual contact between a probation or parole officer and a person, in reckless disregard of the victim being on parole or probation;
  • Sexual contact between a juvenile probation or facility staff member and a person who is 18 or 19 years old, in reckless disregard of the victim being under the custody or supervision of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Sexual assault in the fourth degree is a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $25,000.

These are only some of the sex crimes with which you could be charged in Alaska. While the most serious penalties are reserved for repeat offenders, conviction of even a first offense is serious and requires registration as a sex offender in Alaska.

Work with an Experienced Alaska Sex Crimes Defense Attorney

As you can see from the penalties described above, being charged with a sex crime in Alaska is nothing to take lightly. To protect your future and everything that matters to you, you need an aggressive defense.

Eric Derleth is committed to outthinking, outpreparing, and outworking the prosecutors and government forces trying to convict you. He understands how to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in the prosecution’s case. Like all crimes, sex crimes must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Eric’s in-depth preparation of each case not only allows him to win at trial, but often to get charges dropped or reduced beforehand.

If you have been charged with a sex crime in Alaska, or believe that you might be, there is a lot at stake. To learn about your options and protect your rights, contact The Trial Guy and schedule a complimentary, no-obligation consultation today. Based in Soldotna, Eric represents clients throughout Alaska, including in Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, the Mat-Su Valley, Juneau, and Fairbanks.