Bail status reviewed for Talkeetna man with long criminal history of domestic violence

A man recently arrested after reports of prowling and attempting to enter a family shelter which houses many victims of criminal acts, domestic violence, or petitioners of protective orders, now faces four additional felony counts of sexual assault connected to the incident

Atretes Ophier, previously identified as Orin Pinard, 35, of Talkeetna, was arrested last month after trying to gain entrance into the shelter. In the days leading up to his arrest, he had been the focus of public concern regarding incidents involving harassment allegations in the Mat-Su Valley, including an alleged attempt to pick up an underage female, according to reports.

On May 15, a bail hearing for Ophier was held at the Palmer Superior Courthouse, during which his public defender had asked for a reduction in bail and conditions in case he is able to make bail, asking for house arrest and a reduction in his exclusion zone from one mile to 1,000 feet, citing the proximity of his attorney to the shelter.

Two of the victims in the case were on hand to give statements, one representing the shelter who voiced concerns about the possible reduction in the exclusions zone. She said that Ophier had been trespassed from the shelter the day before the alleged attack.

“Obviously being trespassed wasn’t enough to keep him from coming the next day and attempting to break in,” she told the judge. She said that the one-mile exclusion zone seemed fair, and that if he were to violate that zone, the Palmer Police Department would have the opportunity to reach the shelter before he did. She also stated that she measured out the distance between the shelter and the attorney’s office to be a mile and a half.

The second victim described Ophier attempting to break into the shelter while armed with knives, banging on the door. She believed that had he gained entry, he would have injured staff and traumatized the residents. “The release rules were put in there for a reason. If you lower this, he will be able to get out and make a beeline for the shelter and hurt anybody in between me and him.”

The prosecutor argued that given Ophier’s prior record of assaults, as well as the details in the current case, there were plenty of reasons to keep the bail and conditions of release in place. She also argued that he committed other crimes while on bail with a GPS monitor.

The judge ruled that current bail conditions are sufficient, despite finding the allegations—particularly the attempt to break into a domestic violence shelter—incredibly dangerous. The court noted that targeting individuals in a "heightened fragile state" given the defendant's history is deeply concerning. “I think that the conduct that is alleged here is incredibly dangerous.”

Ophier has previously had run ins with local law enforcement, including an October 2022 arrest by Palmer Police on multiple warrants for Failure to Remand on original charges of Assault 4. Reports from the public indicate that recent actions, allegedly including disorderly conduct in local public areas, have also prompted calls to law enforcement.

Before that in 2011, Ophier, while still going by the name Pinard, faced multiple heavy charges, which included six separate counts of assault, one count of criminal mischief, and a count of cruelty to animals. His arrest records show a history of volatile domestic violence. According to documents and statements associated with the case, Pinard knocked down a front door to assault his ex-wife, beating her so severely that she was left near death. During the violent episodes, he also assaulted his brother by throwing him bodily into a wall.

Beyond the human impact, the case details outline severe acts of animal cruelty. Pinard was charged after abusing and killing the family dog, which reportedly fought back during the incident.

Despite the gravity of these crimes, Pinard was able to strike a plea deal with state prosecutors. As part of the bargain, multiple counts were dropped, and he pleaded guilty to just two charges: One felony count of Second-Degree Assault and one count of Cruelty to Animals.

The details of the plea agreement sparked outrage among Mat-Su residents. In online community safety forums, victims and neighbors regularly express frustration over how an individual with such a severe risk profile managed to avoid extended, long-term prison time.

Bail for the new charges was set at $50,000 cash.