Home school parent charged with abuse

MAT-SU -- Alaska State Trooper child sexual abuse investigators have filed 11 felony complaints against Ralph Gaston, 42, of Big Lake for allegedly sexually abusing a female minor over a period of 12 years. Gaston is additionally charged with incest, also a felony. Troopers allege that Gaston began abusing his victim shortly after she left public schools to study as a home school student.

According to charging documents filed by troopers, Gaston's victim is now 20 years old and told a friend about the abuse last October, then confided in other family members. According to troopers, the family confronted Gaston, who admitted to the abuse and apologized.

Trooper affidavits allege that the abuse started when the girl was between the ages of eight and nine, shortly after she stopped attending public schools. The victim reported the abuse occurred at home, while on a hunting trip and in a hotel room in the Lower 48 during a trip for a sports tournament, according to the troopers.

According to the affidavit filed in court, the abuse was frequent but had no set pattern and Gaston had apologized to his victim in the past, after which the abuse would stop for a period of time, only to start again later. The charge of incest is being filed for alleged sexual activity during the last two years, after Gaston's victim became an adult. The trooper affidavits also allege Gaston admitted to the abuse during an interview with sexual abuse investigators.

In a press release, troopers wrote that a report of abuse came on Jan. 3 to the child sexual abuse investigation unit, a unit operated in cooperation with the Wasilla Police Department. Gaston was interviewed by investigators on Jan. 4 and arrested in Palmer on Jan. 13, according to the release.

Gaston is being held at Mat-Su Pre-Trial in Palmer. He is currently being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and a court-approved third-party custodian.