Investigation into alleged sex crimes turns up dual identity

WASILLA — A Palmer-area man who maintained twin identities for three decades sexually abused at least two underage victims during the 1990s in Alaska, authorities said Wednesday.

James E. Peters, 59, of Palmer, faces at least 14 felony counts, including 10 counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, two counts of incest, and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, according to court documents.

A concerned mother called troopers in mid-December of 2015 to tell them Peters had sexually abused her daughters in 1997 and 1998, sparking an investigation by troopers.

During the investigation, troopers discovered Peters had allegedly obtained identification under both his given name and that of his brother, Raleigh E. Peters, 1, who died in 1952, according to an Alaska State Troopers press release. The dual identifications were allegedly an attempt to avoid child support payment in California.

“Peters also applied for a social security number under the name Raleigh and has been paying taxes for 30 years using that name,” troopers wrote.

Troopers and U.S. Marshals arrested Peters on Tuesday without incident at his Anchorage workplace.

Troopers have also notified California authorities and officials with the Alaska Permanent Fund Division.

Peters remained in Mat-Su Pretrial Wednesday morning on a $75,000 arrest warrant, according to corrections documents.

Here’s what troopers wrote about the case:

On 12-15-15, the Alaska Bureau of Investigation Mat-Su Child Abuse Investigation Unit received a report from a mother that two of her daughters had been sexually abused by James E. Peters, 59 of Palmer, approximately 18 years ago. On 1-21-16 the Palmer Court issued an arrest warrant for James Peters for 10 counts of SAM 1st, 2 counts of SAM 2nd and 2 counts of Incest. Bail was set at $75,000.00 cash and CATP. During the investigation it was discovered that Peters has been using the identity of his deceased brother Raleigh E. Peters (died in 1952 at the age of 1) for approximately the past 30 years, in an attempt to avoid paying child support in the state of California. Peters has obtained driver’s licenses using the name James and Raleigh in both CA and AK. Peters also applied for a social security number under the name Raleigh and has been paying taxes for 30 years using that name. On 1-26-16, deputies from the US Marshal Fugitive Task Force arrested Peters at his place of work in Anchorage. Peters was transported to Palmer and remanded into MSPT. The California Department of Revenue has been notified of the new information. An investigator with Alaska Permanent Fund Division has opened an investigation into Peters collecting dividends for the past several years using Raleigh’s identity. Additional state and Federal charges are likely.