AST seeks public call to action in child abuse case

The Alaska State Troopers (AST) are seeking the public’s assistance in an alleged sexual abuse case against Leonard Acker, who has been indicted on multiple charges of sexual abuse of a minor, as they believe there additional victims in the Mat-Su Valley.

Back in September 16, 2022, the Troopers received a report of alleged sexual abuse of a minor that occurred several years earlier in the Mat-Su Valley. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit opened an investigation into the allegations.

After a thorough investigation, Troopers determined that 56-year-old Williston, North Dakota, resident Leonard Acker had sexually abused multiple juveniles while he was a resident in Alaska.

On December 12, 2024, Acker was indicted on 17 counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the First Degree and six counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the Second Degree, and an arrest warrant was issued for his arrest. Within the week, an investigator with the AST’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit flew to North Dakota and arrested Acker without incident with the assistance of the Williston Police Department and Williams County Sheriff’s Office.

AST is now reaching out to the public as the investigating Trooper believes Acker may have additional victims in the Mat-Su Valley area and are hoping that alerting victims to the fact that Acker is in custody will encourage them to come forward and ensure he is held accountable.

If you have first-hand information that might aid the Alaska State Troopers with their investigation, please contact them at (907) 352-5401 and reference case number AK22096465.