Charges for man in child sex case

PALMER — A Wasilla man charged with sexually abusing a 15-year-old has been indicted on 45 more criminal counts.

A Palmer grand jury returned the indictment Friday against Emmanuel Cancel, 30, after other alleged sexual assault victims came forward since his June 21 arrest on the original charge, according to the Alaska Bureau of Investigation.

Authorities first became aware of the assaults, which are alleged to have happened between 2000 and 2007, when one of the victims came forward, said Beth Ipson, an Alaska State Troopers spokesperson. As the investigation continued, two other victims have come forward.

The victims are now ages 15, 20 and 7, she said, adding they were not strangers to Cancel.

“The victims knew him,” Ipson said. “It’s not like he was out targeting random victims.”

She declined to say how the victims knew Cancel because “with things like sexual abuse, we try not to identify the victims.”

The charges against Cancel include 41 counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, one count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, two counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the first degree and a count of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.

Ipson also praised the victims for reporting the abuse.

“Sometimes it’s hard for victims to come out and speak about this or report it,” she said. “There may be other victims out there too, and if there are, we want them to come forward and get the help they need. Sexual abuse of a minor is something (victims) carry around with them forever.”

Cancel remains in custody at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on $100,000 cash bail. He will be arraigned on the 45 new charges Tuesday.

In addition to Friday’s indictment, the ABI Child Abuse Investigation Unit is continuing to investigate and identify additional potential victims. Anyone with information pertaining to the investigation is asked to contact Investigator Mark Granda at 373-6367.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.