Eagle River man sentenced for sexual abuse of child

Superior Court Judge Jack Smith Feb. 3 sentenced 28-year-old Timothy Lineer to spend more than 25 years in prison for sexually abusing two young children and possessing child pornography, according to a press release from the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office. Lineer was sentenced following guilty pleas to attempted sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree and possession of child pornography in September 2016.

According to the release, on Oct. 25, 2014, a 5-year-old girl disclosed to her mother that Lineer, a family friend, had sexually abused her. The mother notified the Anchorage Police Department and took her daughter to Alaska C.A.R.E.S. for forensic interviews. The investigation revealed that Lineer had sexually abused the 5-year-old girl but also sexually abused a 6-year-old boy on three separate occasions. The investigation also revealed that Lineer had images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Smith heard from the mothers of the victims. Lineer told Judge Smith that “I hold myself accountable.” Judge Smith called this a “tragic” case and noted that Lineer took advantage of the most vulnerable in our society and violated their trust. Judge Smith placed Lineer on probation for 10 years upon his release from prison and ordered Lineer to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.